Son Heung-min facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Son Heung-min

Son in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Chuncheon, South Korea
Height	1.83m
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur
Number	7
Youth career
2006–2007	Yukminkwan Middle School
2007	Dongbuk Middle School
2008	FC Seoul
2008–2010	Hamburger SV
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2010	Hamburger SV II	6	(1)
2010–2013	Hamburger SV	73	(20)
2013–2015	Bayer Leverkusen	62	(21)
2015–	Tottenham Hotspur	322	(126)
National team‡
2008–2009	South Korea U17	18	(7)
2016–2018	South Korea U23	10	(3)
2010–	South Korea	131	(51)
Honours Men's football Representing  South Korea Asian Games Gold 2018 Jakarta-Palembang AFC Asian Cup Runner-up 2015 Australia Third 2011 Qatar AFC U-16 Championship Runner-up 2008 Uzbekistan
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:54, 19 January 2025 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:32, 19 November 2024 (UTC)

Son Heung-min (Korean: 손흥민; born 8 July 1992) is a famous South Korean footballer. He plays as a forward and is the captain for both his club team, Tottenham Hotspur, and the South Korea national team. Many people think he is one of the best wingers in the world. He is known for his amazing speed, great shooting skills, being able to use both feet well, and his ability to work with his teammates.

Son was born in Chuncheon, South Korea. When he was 16, he moved to Germany to join the Hamburger SV youth team. He started playing in the top German league, the Bundesliga, in 2010. In 2013, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a record fee of €10 million. Two years later, he joined Tottenham for £22 million, becoming the most expensive Asian player ever at that time.

At Tottenham, Son became the top Asian goalscorer in both the Premier League and the Champions League. He also broke Cha Bum-kun's record for most goals by a Korean player in European competitions. In 2019, he was the second Asian player to play in a UEFA Champions League final. In the 2021–22 season, he won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 23 goals, becoming the first Asian player to do so. In April 2023, he was the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals. He is also Tottenham's fifth-highest goalscorer and has the most assists for the club. Son is one of only three Tottenham players to play 300 Premier League games for the club.

Son has played for the South Korea national team since 2010. He has played in the FIFA World Cup three times: in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He is his country's joint top scorer at World Cups with three goals. He also won a gold medal with South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games. He played in the AFC Asian Cup in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, with his team finishing second in 2015.

Outside of football, Son is a hero in South Korea. He has been on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list since 2019. In 2022, he received the Cheongnyong Medal, which is the highest award for sports achievements in South Korea. He has also helped make Tottenham Hotspur more popular among South Korean fans.

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Son Heung-min was born in Chuncheon, Gangwon, South Korea. His father, Son Woong-jung, was also a footballer and later became a coach.

Son started his football journey at the FC Seoul academy. He was even a ball boy for an FC Seoul match in 2008. His hero back then was midfielder Lee Chung-yong. Son speaks Korean, German, and English. His agent said that Son learned German by watching SpongeBob SquarePants because he was so determined to succeed in Europe.

Club Career Highlights

Starting in Germany: Hamburger SV

In August 2008, Son left his high school football club to join Hamburger SV's youth academy in Germany when he was 16. After playing in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he officially joined Hamburger SV's youth team in November 2009.

Son warming up for Hamburger SV in 2011

He impressed everyone during the 2010–11 pre-season, scoring nine goals. On his 18th birthday, he signed his first professional contract. He scored his first league goal on 30 October 2010, becoming the youngest Hamburg player to score in the Bundesliga.

Son signed a new contract with Hamburg until 2014. Many experts believed he could become as great as Cha Bum-kun, another legendary South Korean forward. Son scored three goals in 14 matches in his first season.

Son (left) playing for Hamburger SV in August 2012

In the 2011–12 pre-season, Son was amazing, scoring 18 goals in just nine games. He continued to score important goals, helping Hamburg stay in the Bundesliga.

The 2012–13 season was a big one for Son. He scored two goals against Borussia Dortmund in a 4–1 win and was named "Man of the Match." He finished the season with 12 goals, becoming one of the few South Korean footballers to score double-digit goals in Europe.

Moving to Bayer Leverkusen

Son playing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2014

On 13 June 2013, Bayer Leverkusen bought Son for about €10 million, which was their highest transfer fee at the time. He signed a five-year deal. Son quickly settled in, scoring three goals in his first three friendly matches.

On 9 November 2013, Son scored a hat-trick against his old club, Hamburger SV, in a 5–3 win. He scored another important goal against Borussia Dortmund, helping his team get closer to the top of the Bundesliga. He finished the 2013–14 season with 12 goals in 43 matches.

Son scored another hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg in February 2015. He finished the 2014–15 season with 17 goals in 42 matches.

Joining Tottenham Hotspur

First Season: 2015–16

On 28 August 2015, Son joined Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for £22 million. This made him the most expensive Asian player in football history.

Son played his first game for Tottenham on 13 September. In his first 2015–16 UEFA Europa League match on 17 September, he scored his first two goals for the club. Three days later, he scored his first Premier League goal against Crystal Palace. He scored a winning goal against Watford in December and another important goal against Chelsea in May.

Becoming a Star: 2016–2018

Son playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016

Before the 2016–17 season, Son wanted to leave Tottenham for more playing time. But his manager, Mauricio Pochettino, convinced him to stay. On 10 September 2016, Son scored two goals and set up another in his first game of the season. He continued his great form, scoring his fifth goal in five matches in the Champions League. On 14 October, Son was named the Premier League Player of the Month for September, becoming the first South Korean and first Asian player to win this award.

On 12 March 2017, Son scored his first hat-trick for Spurs in an FA Cup match. He continued to score many goals, reaching 21 goals in all competitions that season. This made him one of three Spurs players to score over 20 goals that season.

Son with the Best Footballer in Asia trophy in 2018

Son scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season in the UEFA Champions League. On 5 November 2017, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Crystal Palace. This goal made him the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history, breaking Park Ji-Sung's record. Son became the first Asian player to finish a season as a top-10 goal scorer in the English Premier League.

Champions League Finalist: 2018–19

On 20 July 2018, Son signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham. He scored his first goals of the season in October 2018, scoring twice in his 150th game for Tottenham. He scored his first league goal of the season, his 50th for the club, in a 3–1 win against Chelsea. This goal won the Premier League's Goal of the Month award for November. On 3 April 2019, Son scored the first professional goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

On 9 April 2019, Son scored the first European goal at the new stadium in a 1–0 win against Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals. In the next game, Son scored twice, helping Tottenham reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1962. His goals also made him the highest-scoring Asian player in Champions League history.

Puskás Award Winner: 2019–20

On 7 December 2019, in a match against Burnley, Son scored an amazing individual goal. He ran from one end of the field to the other, dribbling past seven Burnley players. This goal was immediately called a "goal of the season" contender. His manager, José Mourinho, even called him "Sonaldo Nazario" after the famous Brazilian player Ronaldo. This goal later won him the FIFA Puskás Award in December 2020, which is given for the best goal of the year.

On 16 February 2020, Son scored two goals against Aston Villa, making him the first Asian footballer to score 50 goals in the Premier League. He played the whole game despite breaking his arm early in the match.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Son completed his mandatory military service for South Korea. He served with the Marine Corps for three weeks on Jeju Island.

PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21

Son with Tottenham Hotspur in 2021

In the 2020–21 season, Son scored four goals in a 5–2 win against Southampton. All four goals were set up by Harry Kane. This was the first time in Premier League history that one player scored four goals with assists from the same teammate. On 4 October, he scored two goals against Manchester United in a huge 6–1 win. Son received his third Premier League Player of the Month award in November 2020.

On 2 January 2021, Son scored his 100th goal for Tottenham. He and Harry Kane set a new record for the most goal combinations in a single Premier League season. After the season, both Son and Kane were chosen for the PFA Team of the Year.

Golden Boot Winner: 2021–22

On 23 July 2021, Son signed a new contract with Tottenham until 2025. He scored his first goal of the season in the opening match against Manchester City. On 26 February, Son scored a goal against Leeds United, and this goal, assisted by Harry Kane, meant they had combined to score 37 times, setting a new Premier League record for goal-scoring partnerships.

On 9 April, Son scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa, helping Spurs win 4–0. This also put him in Tottenham's top 10 all-time goalscoring list. On the last day of the season, Son scored twice against Norwich City. This helped Tottenham qualify for the Champions League. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 23 goals, sharing it with Mohamed Salah. He was the first Asian player to win this award.

100 Premier League Goals: 2022–23

After winning the Golden Boot, Son had a slow start to the 2022–23 season. However, he ended his goal drought on 17 September by scoring a hat-trick in just 13 minutes against Leicester City. On 1 November, Son got a facial injury during a Champions League match, which caused a fracture near his eye. He still managed to play in the 2022 World Cup for South Korea, wearing a protective mask.

On 19 February 2023, Son faced unfair treatment online after scoring a goal. Tottenham and the anti-racism group Kick It Out strongly spoke out against it. On 8 April, Son scored his 100th Premier League goal in a 2–1 win. He became the first Asian player to reach this amazing milestone.

After the season, Son had surgery for a hernia issue that he had been playing with for many months. He said this injury meant he could only play at 60% of his best.

Becoming Captain: 2023–2025

On 12 August 2023, Son was announced as Tottenham's new captain, taking over from Hugo Lloris. On 2 September, he scored his first hat-trick as captain in a 5–2 win. On 24 September, he scored two goals in a 2–2 draw against Arsenal, reaching 150 goals for the club. For his six goals in September, he won his fourth Premier League Player of the Month award. On 10 December, he had a goal and two assists, becoming Tottenham's all-time assist leader in the Premier League.

International Career

Youth and Early Tournaments: 2009–2014

Son was part of the South Korea U17 team that played in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he scored 3 goals.

On 24 December 2010, Son was chosen for the South Korea national team for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He played his first game for the national team on 30 December. At the tournament, he scored his first international goal against India, becoming the youngest goalscorer in AFC Asian Cup history.

Son being interviewed after playing for South Korea in 2013

Son chose to focus on his club career and did not play in the 2012 London Olympics. However, he became a regular player for the national team in 2013. In a World Cup qualifier against Qatar on 23 March 2013, Son scored the winning goal in the last minute.

In June 2014, Son was part of South Korea's squad for the 2014 World Cup. He scored a goal in a 4–2 loss to Algeria. The Korea Football Association wanted Son to play in the 2014 Asian Games because winning a gold medal would mean he wouldn't have to do military service. But his club, Bayer Leverkusen, did not let him go.

Asian Cup Runner-up and Asian Games Gold: 2015–2018

Son played for South Korea in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. In the quarter-finals, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Uzbekistan. In the final against Australia, he scored a late goal to tie the game, but his team lost 2–1 after extra time. He was chosen as one of the best forwards in the tournament.

In June 2016, Son was one of three older players chosen for the South Korea U23 squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He scored two goals in the group stage. South Korea was knocked out in the quarter-finals.

On 3 September 2015, Son scored a hat-trick in an 8–0 win over Laos during World Cup qualification.

Son playing for South Korea against Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

On 13 June 2017, Son broke his right forearm during a World Cup qualifier. He still helped Korea qualify for the 2018 World Cup. At the World Cup, he scored a great goal against Mexico and another against world champions Germany, helping his team win 2–0 and knock Germany out of the tournament.

Son was chosen for the football tournament at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. He captained the team and scored the winning goal against Kyrgyzstan. In the final, Son helped set up both goals in a 2–1 win over Japan. This gold medal meant that all the players in the squad, including Son, were excused from mandatory military service.

Becoming National Captain: 2019–Present

Son playing for South Korea at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Son was named captain for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He helped his team reach the quarter-finals.

In October 2022, Son was chosen to lead the South Korean team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Despite recovering from an eye injury, he wore a protective mask in all his matches. Son led South Korea to the round of 16 for the first time since 2010.

Son played for the national team in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He scored a penalty against Jordan and helped his team win a penalty shootout against Saudi Arabia. In the quarter-finals against Australia, he won a crucial penalty and scored the winning goal with a free-kick in extra time.

Style of Play

Son is a very flexible player who can play in any forward position, like a winger or a striker. He can even play as an attacking midfielder. He has said that he doesn't care where he plays, as long as he is in the game and giving his best.

Son is known for being able to use both feet equally well. He is also very fast, has a good sense of where to be on the field, controls the ball well, and is great at scoring goals, especially on quick counter-attacks. People also praise him for his hard work and helping out in defense. He can also create goals for his teammates.

Many people now consider Son to be one of the best players in the world and the greatest Asian footballer of all time. Even legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said he wished he could have coached Son.

Sponsorships and Media

Son has sponsorship deals with big brands like sportswear company Adidas and luxury fashion house Burberry. Since 2022, he has been a brand ambassador for Burberry. In March 2023, he became a global face for Burberry's new campaign.

He is also a brand ambassador for the high-end luggage brand Tumi. In February 2024, he became a global ambassador for Tumi. In August 2022, Son was named a brand ambassador for Calvin Klein Underwear in South Korea.

Personal Life

Son used the break in football during the COVID-19 pandemic to complete his mandatory military service in South Korea. Even though he was excused from full service because of his Asian Games gold medal, he still had to do basic military training. He completed three weeks of training with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps in April–May 2020 and was one of the top trainees.

As a South Korean player, Son has sometimes faced unfair treatment from fans during games and online. He has been part of UEFA's "Real Scars" campaign, which aims to raise awareness about online abuse against football players.

Son is also a fan of the video game League of Legends.

In 2019, Son donated about £100,000 to help victims of the Goseong Fire in South Korea. In 2020, he donated £65,000 to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Son opened the Son Football Academy in his hometown of Chuncheon with his father and brother. He paid most of the £11 million cost himself.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Son goal.

List of international goals scored by Son Heung-min

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	18 January 2011	Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar	3	India	4–1	4–1	2011 AFC Asian Cup
2	26 March 2013	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	13	Qatar	2–1	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	6 September 2013	Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon, South Korea	17	Haiti	1–0	4–1	Friendly
4					4–1
5	15 October 2013	Cheonan Stadium, Cheonan, South Korea	20	Mali	2–1	3–1	Friendly
6	5 March 2014	Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece	23	Greece	2–0	2–0	Friendly
7	22 June 2014	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	27	Algeria	1–3	2–4	2014 FIFA World Cup
8	22 January 2015	Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia	37	Uzbekistan	1–0	2–0 (aet)	2015 AFC Asian Cup
9					2–0
10	31 January 2015	ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia	39	Australia	1–1	1–2 (aet)	2015 AFC Asian Cup
11	16 June 2015	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	43	Myanmar	2–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
12	3 September 2015	Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea	44	Laos	2–0	8–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
13					5–0
14					7–0
15	17 November 2015	New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos	46	Laos	3–0	5–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
16					5–0
17	6 October 2016	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	50	Qatar	3–2	3–2	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
18	10 October 2017	Tissot Arena, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland	59	Morocco	1–3	1–3	Friendly
19	10 November 2017	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	60	Colombia	1–0	2–1	Friendly
20					2–0
21	28 May 2018	Daegu Stadium, Daegu, South Korea	64	Honduras	1–0	2–0	Friendly
22	23 June 2018	Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia	69	Mexico	1–2	1–2	2018 FIFA World Cup
23	27 June 2018	Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia	70	Germany	2–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup
24	26 March 2019	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	79	Colombia	1–0	2–1	Friendly
25	10 October 2019	Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea	84	Sri Lanka	1–0	8–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
26					5–0
27	13 June 2021	Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea	91	Lebanon	2–1	2–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
28	7 October 2021	Ansan Wa~ Stadium, Ansan, South Korea	93	Syria	2–1	2–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
29	12 October 2021	Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran	94	Iran	1–0	1–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
30	16 November 2021	Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar	96	Iraq	2–0	3–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
31	24 March 2022	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	97	Iran	1–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
32	6 June 2022	Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon, South Korea	100	Chile	2–0	2–0	Friendly
33	10 June 2022	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	101	Paraguay	2–1	2–2	Friendly
34	23 September 2022	Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea	103	Costa Rica	2–2	2–2	Friendly
35	27 September 2022	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	104	Cameroon	1–0	1–0	Friendly
36	24 March 2023	Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea	109	Colombia	1–0	2–2	Friendly
37					2–0
38	17 October 2023	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	114	Vietnam	4–0	6–0	Friendly
39	16 November 2023	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	115	Singapore	3–0	5–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
40	21 November 2023	Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre, Shenzhen China	116	China	1–0	3–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
41					2–0
42	20 January 2024	Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar	119	Jordan	1–0	2–2	2023 AFC Asian Cup
43	25 January 2024	Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar	120	Malaysia	3–2	3–3	2023 AFC Asian Cup
44	2 February 2024	Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar	122	Australia	2–1	2–1 (aet)	2023 AFC Asian Cup
45	21 March 2024	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	124	Thailand	1–0	1–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
46	26 March 2024	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	125	Thailand	2–0	3–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
47	6 June 2024	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	126	Singapore	3–0	7–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
48					5–0
49	10 September 2024	Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman	129	Oman	2–1	3–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
50	14 November 2024	Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait	130	Kuwait	2–0	3–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
51	19 November 2024	Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan	131	Palestine	1–1	1–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours and Awards

Tottenham Hotspur

• EFL Cup runner-up: 2020–21
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19

South Korea U17

• AFC U-16 Championship runner-up: 2008

South Korea U23

• Asian Games Gold Medal: 2018

South Korea

• AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015

Individual Awards

• FIFA Puskás Award (Best Goal of the Year): 2020
• Premier League Golden Boot (Top Scorer): 2021–22
• Best Footballer in Asia: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Premier League Player of the Month: September 2016, April 2017, October 2020, September 2023
• Premier League Goal of the Season: 2019–20
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2020–21
• Korean FA Player of the Year: 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
• Cheongnyong Medal: 2022 (Highest Sports Award in South Korea)
• Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Season: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22

Images for kids

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  Son in 2018

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  Son warming up for Hamburger SV in 2011

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  Son (left) playing for Hamburger SV in August 2012

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  Son playing for Bayer Leverkusen in 2014

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  Son playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016

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  Son with the Best Footballer in Asia trophy in 2018

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  Son with Tottenham Hotspur in 2021

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  Son with South Korean fans at the 2016 Summer Olympics

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  Son playing for South Korea against Mexico at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

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  Son playing for South Korea at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup