Son Heung-min is a South Korean footballer. He plays as a left winger for LAFC in Major League Soccer and captains the South Korea national team. He is the top Asian goal scorer in both Premier League and Champions League history, and many consider him the greatest Asian player ever.
He was born in Chuncheon, South Korea, and moved to Germany at 16 to join Hamburger SV. He made his Bundesliga debut in 2010. In 2013, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a club record €10 million. Two years later, he signed with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
At Spurs, he helped the club reach the Champions League final in 2019 and the EFL Cup final in 2021. In April 2023, he became the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals. Later that year, he was named Tottenham’s club captain.
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Son Heung-min
‘World-Class’ Denied by His Own Father
After a reporter called Son “world-class,” his father immediately corrected him: “My son is NOT a world-class player.” He stores away most of Son’s trophies to keep him humble, except the 2022 Premier League Golden Boot – the first ever won by an Asian player. A father’s tough love keeps the superstar grounded.
Four Hours of Keepy-Uppies as Punishment
At age 10, Son Heung-min and his brother fought during training. Their father punished them with an unimaginable task: keep the ball in the air without touching the ground for four hours. Son recalls, “After three hours, I was seeing three balls. The floor was red.” Four hours, no drops. Pure torture.
2018 Win Over Germany Was ‘Revenge’
When South Korea beat defending champions Germany 2-0 in the 2018 World Cup, Son called it his “finest moment.” He revealed it was “revenge” for the racism he endured as a child in Germany – “difficult moments you couldn’t imagine.” He admitted having “little sympathy” for the teary German fans. A painful past fueled a glorious present.
Wears a Smaller Shoe Size Than Average
Standing at 1.83 metres, Son Heung-min has surprisingly small feet. He wears sizes between 255 mm and 265 mm (EU 38 or US 7.5) – smaller than the average Korean adult male (270 mm). His feet are so battered from years of play that he brings three different sizes to match day and picks based on his foot’s condition.
Asia’s Most Expensive Player Who Lived at Home
Son Heung-min became the most expensive Asian player when Tottenham bought him for €30 million. Yet until nearly age 30, he lived with his parents in a modest Barnet apartment near the training ground. His father cooked for him and managed his logistics, ensuring Son could focus entirely on football. A superstar with humble domesticity.
A Gold Medal That Saved His Career
Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men must serve 21 months in the military. At the 2018 Asian Games, Son led his country to a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Japan. After the final whistle, he broke down in tears – the gold medal earned him an exemption from full military service. A career saved by 90 minutes of football.
A Dreadful Karaoke Singer Beloved by Teammates
Off the pitch, Son Heung-min is famously terrible at karaoke. Teammate Ben Davies joked that Son sings “with his whole heart – just not his ears.” But his passion and enthusiasm have become a beloved part of the Tottenham dressing room. He once even got manager Mauricio Pochettino to sing a Korean ballad. Awful but adored.
Dropped Out of School at 16
To chase a football career, Son left the traditional path. At 16, he dropped out of school and joined the Hamburger SV youth academy in Germany. His father moved with him, waking him early for weight sessions before regular training. His education continued only on the pitch. A gamble that paid off spectacularly.
UN Goodwill Ambassador Fighting Global Hunger
Son donates large sums to causes in South Korea, including forest fires and COVID-19 relief. He was also named a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN World Food Programme (WFP). He uses his platform to raise awareness for the “Zero Hunger” campaign. A goalscorer on the pitch, a lifesaver off it.
The Relentless ‘Masked Warrior’
After fracturing his eye socket in a 2022 collision, doctors told Son Heung-min he needed surgery. With the World Cup looming, he famously said, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He underwent the operation and played for his country wearing a protective mask, training relentlessly through the pain. A warrior in every sense.
FAQs
Q. Who does Son Heung-min play for?
A. Son Heung-min plays for LAFC and captains South Korea.
Q. What award did Son win in 2020?
A. Son won the FIFA Puskás Award for a solo goal in 2020.
Q. What Premier League milestone did Son reach in 2023?
A. Son became the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals.
Q. What trophy did Son win with Tottenham in 2025?
A. Son helped Tottenham win the UEFA Europa League in 2025.
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