SON HEUNG-MIN

An Asian Icon & Humanitarian Hero

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Purple number 11 inside a circle on a black background.

Son Heung-Min, captain of the South Korea national team and Tottenham Hotspur, is one of the most prominent stars in Asian and international football – not only for his impressive on-field performance but also for his philanthropic endeavours beyond the game.

AFC Champion

The pride of South Korea combines sporting success with a passion for helping others, making him a unique figure who blends sports and charity.

As well as a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games to cap his international career, Son has managed to carve his name in the history of the continent and the English Premier League with unforgettable individual statistics.

Son has won the Asian Footballer of the Year award nine times, in addition to the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-2022 season. Beyond that, the South Korean star is renowned for his high morals and good conduct on and off the field. He is a true legend.

Therefore, the 32-year-old Son was chosen to be included in our Champions of Progress edition of TREND 11, presented by NEOM, the global partner of the Asian Football Confederation.

Son is not just a great player, he’s an inspiring figure who has transcended the boundaries of the field to positively influence society and make a difference in the lives of others.

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An Asian Icon

Soccer player in white and blue kit running with a ball

In 2008, the 16-year-old football prodigy dropped out of high school to move across the world to Hamburg, Germany. After two seasons, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where his speed and strength saw him excel across the attacking line. Son scored many decisive goals in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, catching the attention of English Premier League clubs.

The most famous chapter of his career began in 2015, when Son signed for Tottenham in an Asian record deal worth around €30 million, making him the most expensive Asian footballer at that time.

With Tottenham, Son developed into one of the best forwards in the world, thanks to his speed, skill in shooting with both feet, and intelligence in moving around the field. Across a succession of coaches, he became an indispensable player in their starting XI across more than 300 matches. He was formidable foil for Harry Kane for close to a decade before he left London for Bayern Munich in 2023.

Son has scored more than 150 goals for Tottenham in all competitions, and became the first Asian player to score 100 goals in the Premier League. Fans chose him as Spurs’ best player of the season multiple times, and he was also one of the main reasons for the team's reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, before losing to Liverpool.

Son has carved his name in the history of the Premier League. Although he has been unable to win the title with his team, he shared the Golden Boot award in the 2021-22 season with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. He won the Player of the Month award four times, in September 2016, April 2017, October 2020, and September 2023.

On an individual level, Son won many awards including the Asian Footballer of the Year award nine times, the Best Asian Player in Europe award three times, and the Premier League Goal of the Season award for 2020 for a brilliant goal against Burnley.

He also won the gold medal with the South Korean national team at the 2018 Asian Games, which exempted him from full military service, but he had to undergo basic military training regardless of the exemption.

The player has recorded 49 international goals with the Korean national team and has captained the squad in several major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup. He also became the first player to win the Asian Footballer of the Year award four times.

Son has been playing for the South Korean national team since December 2010, making his debut in a friendly match before the 2011 AFC Asian Cup against Syria.

Son scored his first international goal during the Koreans' 4-1 victory over India in the group stage of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, becoming the youngest player to score a goal in the history of the competition.

Son has participated in 129 international matches at both friendly and official levels in all tournaments, most notably his participation in the Asian Cup four times: 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. Although he has never won the title, he reached the final against Australia in 2015.

In addition, Son has represented South Korea in the World Cup three times: 2014, 2018, and 2022. His best result was reaching the round of 16 in the most recent edition held in Qatar.

Two soccer players celebrating a goal, wearing white uniforms, one player pointing and smiling, the other with an arm around his teammate.

Soccer match between players in red and black jerseys, actively competing for ball possession.

Two female fans holding supportive signs at a sports event, one with Korean text and the other saying "Nice one Son".

Source of Inspiration

Fan Champion

Son is not only one of the best players in Asian football but is also a highly popular and influential figure, especially among young fans.

Son's impact is due to his remarkable humility, and authentic interaction with fans. He is a role model and a great source of inspiration, not only in his country, South Korea, but across Asia.

He is known for his great appreciation of fans, whether through signing autographs after matches or through his media interviews where he always speaks positively about them. He’s visited children suffering from serious illnesses who idolise Son as their favourite player, providing warmth and joy to those short on it given their situations.

Son's success at Tottenham and his brilliance at the global level have not changed his humility. His success and attitude inspires young people and encourages them to work hard to achieve their dreams, which makes him one of the most beloved figures in the world of football today.

Soccer player interacting with children on the field, smiling. Children wearing jerseys with "Daddy 10." Woman and others around, casual setting.

Soccer player in red jersey with "Football Unites the World" patch.

Son is known for his charitable work and humanitarian contributions aimed at improving the lives of others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the player donated huge sums to support efforts to combat the virus in South Korea.

Son has also provided financial support to families affected by natural disasters. In 2019, he donated about £100,000 to the victims of the Goseong fire, which caused massive destruction in his homeland, South Korea.

Charity Champion

Ambassador of Goodwill

Youth soccer practice on a field, with children in red jerseys and a coach guiding them. Several soccer balls are on the ground.

The Spurs star also participates in programmes aimed at supporting children and young people through sports. He works with non-profit organisations aimed at improving educational and sports opportunities for children from poor backgrounds.

Son contributes directly to providing the necessary resources to build sports fields for children in deprived areas, believing sports are a powerful tool to change people's lives for the better.

Son opened the Son Football Academy in his hometown of Chuncheon with his father and brother, at a cost of £11 million, most of which it is reported that he paid for himself.