Son Heung-min

At 31 years old, Son Heung-min has this physical status:

Club career

Son dropped out of Dongbuk High School's football team (formerly FC Seoul under-18 team) in August 2008 and joined Hamburger SV's youth academy at age 16 through the Korean FA Youth Project. He returned to South Korea a year later. After participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, he officially joined Hamburger SV's youth academy in November 2009.

He was outstanding in the 2010-11 pre-season, leading the team with nine goals and signing his first professional deal on his 18th birthday. He was out for two months due to a foot injury after scoring against Chelsea in August. He scored his first league goal against 1. FC Köln is now in the 24th minute. Son was the youngest Hamburg player to score a goal in the Bundesliga at 18, smashing the record held by Manfred Kaltz.

Son has been a member of Hamburg till 2014. Pundits said he had what it took to become Cha Bum-kun, a legendary Bundesliga forward and South Korean. During the 2010–11 season, Son scored three goals in 14 games in all competition.

Son was a natural performer in only nine games during the 2011–12 pre-season. Son scored two goals in three matches after missing the first match due to a fever. Son sustained an ankle injury in the 4–3 loss to 1. FC Köln was expected to be out of action for four to six weeks. In a 1–0 loss against Borussia Mönchengladbach on September 17, his recovery was quicker than expected, and he returned to action just three weeks later as a replacement. He made 30 appearances for Hamburg and scored five goals, including crucial ones against Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nürnberg continued to play in the Bundesliga until the end of the season to help ensure that Hamburg stayed in the Bundesliga.

Mladen Petri and Paolo Guerrero's moves to Fulham and Corinthians respectively, as a result of Hamburger SV's 2012–13 offseason transfers, which saw the transfers of the team's strikers Mladen Petri and Paolo Guerrero, respectively, were transferred to Fulham and Corinthians. Son had a breakthrough season in 2012-2013 after scoring two goals in an away match against Borussia Dortmund on February 9, 2013, bringing his team to a 4–1 victory. By kicker, Son Mann des Tages (Man of the Match) was chosen Mann des Days (Man of the Match). Son scored two goals in a 2–1 victory over Mainz 05 on April 14, 2014. He scored 12 goals on the season, his fifth South Korean footballer to reach double digits in goals in Europe. He scored 12 goals in 34 games in all competitions during the 2012–13 season.

Bayer Leverkusen announced Son's transfer for reportedly €10 million, the highest transfer fee in the club's history at the time. He agreed to a five-year contract with the team. Son made his way to his new club in the pre-season, scoring three goals in his first three appearances for the team in exhibition matches (against 1860 Munich, Udinese, and KAS Eupen respectively).

Son defeated Leverkusen 5-3 on 9 November 2013, scoring a hat-trick for the first time in a 5-3 victory over his former club Hamburgers SV. Son scored a vital goal against Borussia Dortmund on December 7th, taking his team just four points off the top of the Bundesliga table. Son scored another goal against Werder Bremen on May 10, 2014, securing his team's spot in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League. He had scored in 43 games in 2013-2014.

In a 4–5 loss, Son scored a hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg on February 14, 2015, scoring when they were losing 0–3. He scored 17 goals in 42 games during the 2014–15 season.

Son started with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2015-16 season. He made his league debut and a Champions League qualifying match.

Son joined Premier League Hotspur for £22 million (€30 million) on a five-year deal, subject to work permit and international clearance. He became Asia's most expensive Asian player since his signing. Hidetoshi Nakata, who moved from Roma to Parma for €25 million, had held the record since 2001.

Son made his debut on September 13th in Sunderland before being replaced by Andros Townsend in the 62nd minute of a 1–0 victory. Son scored his first two goals for the team in Tottenham's first match of the 2015-16 Europa League on September 17th. FK is a television broadcaster. Tottenham Hotspur's first Premier League victory of the season came in three days after he scored his first Premier League goal against Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane, netting in the 68th minute. Son replaced Tom Carroll in the 80th minute during Tottenham's winning goal in the 89th minute on December 28th. He scored his second goal against Chelsea in a crucial match against Spurs on May 2nd, giving Spurs a chance of winning the Premier League. Chelsea was equalized in the second half in the second half, but Leicester City took the trophy back to Leicester City.

Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs' manager, was apparently asked for permission to leave Tottenham in an attempt to gain more playing time, but he was later given the opportunity to fight for his Spurs' position. Son scored two goals and earned his third in his first appearance of the season on September 10, 2016, defeating Stoke City 4–0. Son returned from his brace to Middlesborough on September 24th, winning by 1–2 on his team's first brace. Son was described as "a different person" by Pochettino as "more mature and knows the game, and he's settled in fantastically now" after equalizing his league goal total from the previous season in 25 fewer matches. Son continued his excellent form with his fifth goal in five games on September 27 in the Champions League. Son lost a shot on goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev for the match's only goal. Son was named Premier League Player of the Month for September on October 14th, the first South Korean and first Asian to receive the award.

Son continued to score oddities over the next few months, and then beat Millwall 6–0 in the FA Cup on March 12, 2017. He was racially abused by a section of the Millwall supporters who chanted "DVD" and "he's selling three for a fiver" every time he touched the ball, referring to a stereotype against east Asians. He scored in the 2–0 victory over Burnley on April 1, 2017 and four days later, Spurs advanced at Swansea after losing 1–0 after 88 minutes and ending up winning 3–1. He had a brace at home to Watford over the weekend, taking his season total to 18 goals and 11 in the Premier League, his highest-ever goals total. Son received the Premier League Player of the Month award in April for the second time in his career, making him the first player to win the award twice in 2016–17. Son bagged a brace away from Leicester City on May 18, 2017 as part of a 6–1 victory over their former title rivals. Son joined Harry Kane and Dele Alli as the first three Spurs players to score over 20 goals on the season, with 21 goals in all competitions.

Son scored his first goal of the 2017-18 season in a UEFA Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on September 13, 2017 at Spurs temporary home Wembley Stadium, which Spurs defeated 31-01. Spurs beat Liverpool 4–1 at home, scoring his first Premier League goal of the season. Son's only goal in the 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace on Friday was on November 5th. He boosted his Premier League total to 20 goals, and in doing so, he became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history, defeating the record set by Park Ji-Sung at Manchester United. Son scored a goal and assisted in a game against Everton on January 13, beating the club's record for scoring in five consecutive home games. Tottenham defeated Rochdale 6-1 in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, with Son scoring a brace and assisting Fernando Llorente. Son converted a penalty, but the video assistant referee overruled his goal. Son has been the first Asian to finish the season as a top-ten goal scorer in the English Premier League.

Son signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur, extending his deal with the club until 2023. In his 150th game for Tottenham in the 2018–19 EFL Cup match against West Ham, he scored a brace in his first goals of the season. In the 3–1 home win over Chelsea in the Premier League this season, he scored his first league goal of the season and 50th for the club in all competitions. For November, this goal received the Premier League's Goal of the Month award. Son scored his first goal in a 3–0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League's first leg on February 13th. At the end of the month, he was named Premier League Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. Son scored his first professional goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace on April 3, 2019.

Son scored his first European competition goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 1–0 victory over Manchester City in the 2018-19 Champions League's quarterfinals on Sunday. Son scored twice in the return leg, earning Tottenham a 4–4 aggregate victory over the away goals rule, the club's first appearance since 1962, and only the second time ever. With 12 goals, he became the highest scoring Asian player in the tournament's history, overtaking previous record holders Maxim Shatskikh. Son received his first red card in the Premier League on May 4th, 2019 after his vindictive play against Jefferson Lerma.

Son opened his 2019–20 account by scoring two goals against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on September 14, 2019 with a final result of 4–0. Son was selected in the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or on October 21. Son was forced to pull André Gomes from behind on a 1-1 draw with Everton on Friday, causing him to stumble awkwardly and suffer a serious ankle injury. The injury sparked a lot of anxiety and annoyance among the participants and supporters; the son was clearly shaken by the event. Son was suspended for three Premier League games after a red card for a challenge on Gomes. However, several professionals, including former Everton footballer Kevin Kilbane, condemned the red card's decision, and Tottenham appealed the dismissal of a dismissal. The FA accepted the appeal, and Son's red card was canceled on November 5th. Son scored a brace in a 4–0 Champions League away game to Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday, three days after the incident, rather than celebrating his first goal, he apologised to the camera for what transpired at Goodison Park.

Son scored Tottenham's first goal as manager in a 3–2 Spurs victory over West Ham on Sunday, earning him Man-of-the-match. Son's offense against Burnley went from one end of the pitch to the other, going from seven Burnley players to the other, with a goal that was immediately branded a goal of the season contender. Mourinho dubbed him "Sonaldo Nazario" in reference to the kind of goal former Brazilian international Ronaldo would score in the goal. Son was named the Premier League Goal of the Month for December's effort against Burnley, earning him the Goal of the Season award in January 2020. In December 2020, FIFA rewarded the goal as the highest goal of the past 12 months.

Son was kicked off after lifting his boot against Antonio Rüdiger's ribs on December 22, 2019, facing Chelsea. Son scored two goals at Villa Park on February 16, 2020, becoming the first Asian footballer to score 50 goals in the Premier League, with 51 scored goals in 151 Premier League games. Despite suffering a fractured arm during the 31st second game, Son played the entire game. José Mourinho, the South Korean's head coach, said at a later date that he was not optimistic about Son's health and that it was likely that the South Korean will be out for the remainder of the season.

Son will provide his mandatory military service for South Korea on April 6, 2020, although football was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. He served on Jeju Island for three weeks after completing a two-week quarantine on his return to Korea.

Son scored four goals, all supported by Harry Kane, in a 5–2 victory over Southampton in the first Premier League match of the season, marking the first League victory and away win of the season. This was the first time in Premier League history that a single player scored four goals in a game while being assisted by the same teammate. He scored a brace against Manchester United to help Tottenham win 6-1, their first victory at Old Trafford and their best result against United since a home win in 1932. Son received his third Premier League Player of the Month award on November 13, 2020, based on his appearances.

Cho So-hyun, Son's counterpart on the Korean Women's National Team, joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season. Spurs had the rare distinction of having both the Men's and Women's National Team Captains at the same club with Son already enrolled.

Son scored his 100th goal for Tottenham in the 3–0 victory over Leeds on January 2nd. He had three assists on the tenth of February 2021, but Tottenham lost 5–4 to Everton in the FA Cup. Son played an assist to Harry Kane in their 4–1 victory over Crystal Palace on March 7th, and the first two goals in a single Premier League season, whereby one assisted another. Kane and Kane were selected for the PFA Premier League Team of the Year at the end of the season, though Tottenham finished in seventh place.

Son's deal with Tottenham did not conclude until 2025, which was on July 2321. In the first game against Manchester City, which resulted in a 1–0 win, he scored his first goal of the season. He scored in new manager Antonio Conte's first match in charge, a 3–2 victory over Vitesse in the Europa Conference League's group stage on Thursday. Son had the distinction of scoring the first goal under each of Tottenham's last three permanent managers, and was praised for doing so. Son scored a goal against Leeds United in a 4–0 victory on February 26; Harry Kane assisted with the goal; this was the 37th time Kane and Son combined to score, establishing a new record in goal-scoring partnerships in the Premier League.

Son scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Sunday to give Spurs a 4–0 away victory and also a top-ten goalscoring list for the first time.

Son won the Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, the first Asian player to do so, after scoring twice in a 5–0 victory over Norwich City on the last day of the season.

Son was off to a slow start to the 2022-23 season, struggling to score a single goal in the first eight games and receiving only one assist after winning the Golden Boot for the first time last season. In the game against Leicester City on September 17th, he brought a hat-trick in 13 minutes to help Tottenham beat 6–2.

International career

Son was a member of the South Korea national team that competed at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. In this tournament, he scored three goals.

Son was named in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup's squad on December 24, 2010, marking his debut for the national team against Syria. During a 4–1 group stage victory over India, Son scored his first international goal. With this goal, he became the youngest goalscorer in the AFC Asian Cup history.

Son played in a friendly against Poland on September 7, 2011, after initially missing the first two matches of South Korea's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign due to an ankle injury, he appeared again in a friendly against the UAE on September 7th. Son's father, on the other hand, caused a stir by asking the Korea Football Association not to pick his son for the national team in the immediate future so he can relax and mature as a player. Cho Kwang-rae, then the South Korea head coach, responded by saying that he would continue to call Son when it was needed.

Son declined to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, deciding to concentrate on his club experience at Hamburger SV. Son was quoted as saying, "An Olympic appearance has a special place in Korea, but I want to get to Hamburg faster." What matters is is that you pour all of my time into team training." Son did, however, play for the national team in two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lebanon and Iran in autumn 2012, and he was given a regular call-up in friendlies and World Cup qualifying matches in 2013. Son appeared as a replacement in the 81st minute and scored the winning goal in the 96th minute in the World Cup qualifier against Qatar on March 23, 2013.

Son was named in South Korea's squad for the 2014 World Cup in June 2014. In the team's second group match, he scored in a 4–2 loss to Algeria on June 22nd. The Korea Football Association urged Bayer Leverkusen to allow Son to compete in the 2014 Asian Games as a result of the tournament's gold medalist will qualify Son from military service. Despite Son's statements regarding his passion and the KFA's efforts, his club, Bayer Leverkusen, has decided not to release him as a result of his absence would leave the team without him for at least six games.

Son was selected for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in South Korea. In the team's 2–0 extra time victory over Uzbekistan, he scored both of the team's goals. He equalized in time in the final against the hosts, but his team lost 2–1 after extra time. He was selected as one of three forwards in the Tournament's squad.

Son was named as an over-aged player in South Korea's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in June. Son scored two goals in the group stages, one against Fiji and another against Germany, assisting his team in the group's top finish with two victories and a draw. In the quarterfinals, South Korea was eliminated by Honduras, leaving Son without a chance.

Son defeated Laos 8–0 in the second round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup on September 3, 2015, bringing a hat-trick.

Son suffered violently on his arm during a World Cup qualifier match against Qatar on June 13. After a 0–0 draw against Uzbekistan on September 5, 2017, he was part of the team that saw Korea qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Son was selected in the 23-man squad for the World Cup on June 4, 2018. Son scored a goal from outside the penalty box, curling a curling kick into the top corner, but his team lost by 2–1 to Mexico in their second group stage match of the World Cup on June 23. In the 97th minute of the 97th minute, he scored his second goal in the 97th minute, sealing their fate.

Son was one of three overage players allowed in the under-23 team for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. In the last game of the group stage against Kyrgyzstan, he captained the team, scoring the team's only goal of the game to help the team advance to the knockout rounds. After the Taeguk Warriors defeated Vietnam, 3-1, he captained the team in the knockout rounds and made it to the final. Son played in both extra-time goals in a 2–1 victory over Japan, which guaranteed the entire squad's exemption from mandatory military service for the entire squad.

Son was appointed captain of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi by Paulo Bento, but he missed the first two group matches due to a dispute with Tottenham Hotspur relating to his call-up. In the third group game against China, he scored an assist. However, his participation in the tournament was lethargic due to a lack of physical fitness in his hectic schedule, and he returned to London following his team's loss in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Qatar.

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