Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min is the most universally loved footballer in the Premier League, and that should not obscure the fact that he is also one of the most devastatingly effective. Tottenham’s all-time leading scorer in the competition, the South Korean captain possesses explosive pace, clinical finishing with both feet, and the ability to produce individual goals that make your jaw physically drop. That 2020 Puskas Award-winning solo effort against Burnley — running from his own half, beating the entire defence, and finishing with the composure of a man ordering a coffee — remains one of the greatest goals in Premier League history. Not one of the greatest Spurs goals. One of the greatest goals, full stop.

Son’s longevity at the top is not merely remarkable; it is an indictment of every club that could have signed him and chose not to. Since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, he has scored double-figure Premier League goals in virtually every season with a consistency that borders on the mechanical. Under Ange Postecoglou, Son has adapted his game to operate more centrally at times, adding yet another dimension to a skill set that was already among the most complete in the league. His professionalism, humility, and sportsmanship are genuine — not a media construct — and that makes him a rarity in modern football.

For Australian fans, the Son-Postecoglou partnership at Spurs is catnip: one of Asia’s greatest players working under Australia’s most celebrated coach. Tottenham’s profile in the Asia-Pacific region has never been higher.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

With 320 appearances and 120 goals, Son’s numbers place him among the greatest forwards the Premier League has ever produced. The South Korean legend continues to be a vital figure under Postecoglou in the 2025-26 season, and while Father Time remains undefeated, Son is putting up a fight that would make most players a decade younger look inadequate. When he finally hangs up his boots, Spurs will retire more than a shirt number — they will retire an era.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com