History of Son Heung-min in Timeline
Son Heung-min is a highly accomplished South Korean professional footballer, currently playing as a left winger for Los Angeles FC and captaining the South Korea national team. Celebrated for his exceptional speed, finishing ability, and two-footed proficiency, he has achieved the distinction of being the top Asian goalscorer in both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. He is widely considered the greatest Asian player ever.
July 1992: Son Heung-min's Birth
In July 1992, Son Heung-min was born in South Korea. He is a professional footballer known for playing as a left winger and captaining the South Korea national team.
2001: Previous Record
In 2001, Hidetoshi Nakata transferred from Roma to Parma for €25 million, held the record of most expensive Asian player until Son's transfer in 2015.
2004: Scoring Streak Record
In 2004, Jermain Defoe set the club record of scoring in five consecutive home games, which was later matched by Son Heung-min in 2018.
August 2008: Joined Hamburger SV Youth Academy
In August 2008, Son Heung-min dropped out of Dongbuk High School's football club and joined Hamburger SV's youth academy at age 16 through the Korean FA Youth Project.
2008: FC Seoul Ball Boy
In 2008, Son Heung-min was a ball boy in an FC Seoul home match while a youth player for the club.
October 2010: First League Goal
On October 30, 2010, Son Heung-min scored his first league goal against 1. FC Köln, becoming the youngest Hamburg player to score a goal in the Bundesliga at 18.
December 2010: Named in South Korea squad for AFC Asian Cup
On 24 December 2010, Son Heung-min was named in South Korea national team's squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
2010: Early career at Hamburg
During the 2010-11 season, Son scored three goals in 14 matches in all competitions for Hamburg.
2010: International Debut
In 2010, Son Heung-min became a full international player for South Korea.
2010: Debut in Bundesliga
In 2010, Son Heung-min made his debut in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV after relocating to Germany at age 16.
September 2011: Missed matches due to ankle injury
In September 2011, Son Heung-min missed the first two matches of South Korea's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign due to an ankle injury.
October 2011: Featured in World Cup qualifier
In October 2011, Son Heung-min played in a friendly against Poland, and was again featured in an 11 October World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates, after missing the first two matches of South Korea's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in September due to an ankle injury.
2011: 2011-12 Season with Hamburg
During the 2011-12 season, Son made 30 appearances for Hamburg and scored five goals, helping the team remain in the Bundesliga.
2011: AFC Asian Cup 2011
In 2011, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
2012: Starter for Hamburger SV
Following Hamburger SV's offseason moves in 2012, manager Thorsten Fink named Son Heung-min a starter for the team.
March 2013: Winning goal against Qatar
On 23 March 2013, Son Heung-min came on as a substitute in the 81st minute and scored the winning goal in the 96th minute against Qatar.
June 2013: Transfer to Bayer Leverkusen
In June 2013, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed Son Heung-min's transfer for a reported €10 million, agreeing to a five-year deal.
November 2013: Hat-trick Against Hamburger SV
On November 9, 2013, Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick for Bayer Leverkusen in a 5-3 win against his former club, Hamburger SV.
2013: Moved to Bayer Leverkusen
In 2013, Son Heung-min moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a club record of €10 million.
May 2014: Goal Against Werder Bremen
On May 10, 2014, Son Heung-min scored a goal against Werder Bremen, securing a spot for Bayer Leverkusen in the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League.
June 2014: Named in South Korea's squad for the 2014 World Cup; scored against Algeria
In June 2014, Son was selected for South Korea's squad for the 2014 World Cup. On June 22, he scored a goal in the match against Algeria, which they lost 4-2. Later, the Korea Football Association's request for Son to participate in the 2014 Asian Games was declined by Bayer Leverkusen.
2014: FIFA World Cup 2014
In 2014, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup.
2014: 2014-15 Season
In the 2014-15 season, Son finished with 17 goals in 42 matches.
2014: Signed New Deal with Hamburg through 2014
Son Heung-min had signed a new deal with Hamburg through 2014.
February 2015: Hat-trick Against VfL Wolfsburg
On February 14, 2015, Son Heung-min scored a hat-trick against VfL Wolfsburg in a 4-5 defeat.
August 2015: Joined Tottenham Hotspur
On August 28, 2015, Son Heung-min joined Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for £22 million (€30 million) on a five-year contract, becoming the most expensive Asian player in football history.
September 2015: Scored a hat-trick against Laos
On 3 September 2015, Son scored a hat-trick in an 8–0 home win over Laos in the second round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup, which took place at the Hwaseong Stadium.
2015: Debut and Goals for Tottenham
In 2015, Son Heung-min made his debut for Tottenham Hotspur, scored his first two goals in the UEFA Europa League against Qarabağ FK, and scored his first Premier League goal against Crystal Palace. He scored the winning goal against Watford on December 28.
2015: AFC Asian Cup Runner-Up 2015
In 2015, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup, where the team was the runner-up.
June 2016: Named in South Korea under-23 squad for 2016 Summer Olympics
In June 2016, Son was selected as one of the overage players in South Korea's under-23 squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics. He scored two goals in the group stages, one against Fiji and another against Germany, contributing to the team topping the group. However, South Korea was eliminated by Honduras in the Quarterfinals, with Son missing crucial chances.
September 2016: Premier League Player of the Month
In September 2016, Son Heung-min was named the Premier League Player of the Month, becoming the first South Korean and first Asian to receive the award.
2016: Spurs Career
After requesting to leave, Son Heung-min was given a chance to fight for his place at Spurs and eventually scored two goals against Stoke City on September 10, 2016.
March 2017: First Spurs Hat Trick and Racial Abuse
In March 2017, Son Heung-min scored his first Spurs hat trick in the FA Cup against Millwall, but was also racially abused by a section of the Millwall fans.
April 2017: Premier League Player of the Month
In April 2017, Son Heung-min won the Premier League Player of the Month for the second time, becoming the only player in the 2016-17 season to win the award twice.
May 2017: Goals Against Leicester City
On May 18, 2017, Son Heung-min scored a brace away to Leicester City as part of a 6-1 rout. With 21 goals, he joined Harry Kane and Dele Alli as the first trio of Spurs players with over 20 goals on the season.
June 2017: Broke right forearm during World Cup qualifier against Qatar
On 13 June 2017, Son broke his right forearm after falling awkwardly during a World Cup qualifier match in Doha against Qatar, facing a setback in his career.
September 2017: Korea qualified for the 2018 World Cup
In September 2017, Son was part of the team that secured Korea's qualification for the 2018 World Cup after a 0–0 draw against Uzbekistan on September 5, marking a significant achievement.
September 2017: Goal Against Borussia Dortmund
On September 13, 2017, Son Heung-min scored his first goal of the 2017-18 season in the UEFA Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.
November 2017: Top Asian Goalscorer in Premier League History
On November 5, 2017, Son Heung-min became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history with 20 Premier League goals, breaking the record set by Park Ji-Sung.
January 2018: Scoring Streak
On January 13, 2018, Son Heung-min matched the club record of scoring in five consecutive home games against Everton.
July 2018: Contract Extension
On July 20, 2018, Son Heung-min signed a new five-year deal, extending his contract with Tottenham until 2023.
2018: Champions League Final
In 2018, Son Heung-min contributed to Tottenham Hotspur reaching the Champions League final.
2018: FIFA World Cup 2018 & Asian Games Gold
In 2018, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup and the Asian Games, where the team won gold.
February 2019: Goal Against Borussia Dortmund
On February 13, 2019, Son Heung-min scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the round of 16, UEFA Champions League.
April 2019: First European competition goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
On 9 April 2019, Son Heung-min scored the first European competition goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 1–0 win against Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the 2018–19 Champions League. In the return leg in April 2019, Son scored twice, securing Tottenham a 4–4 aggregate win and a spot in the semi-finals for the first time since 1962.
April 2019: First Goal at New Stadium
On April 3, 2019, Son Heung-min scored the first professional goal at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
May 2019: First Premier League red card
On 4 May 2019, Son Heung-min received his first red card in the Premier League due to his vindictive action against Jefferson Lerma.
September 2019: Two goals against Crystal Palace
On 14 September 2019, Son Heung-min opened his 2019–20 account by scoring two goals against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, resulting in a 4–0 victory.
December 2019: Red card against Chelsea
On 22 December 2019, facing Chelsea, Son Heung-min was sent off after raising his boot against Antonio Rüdiger's ribs.
2019: AFC Asian Cup 2019
In 2019, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
2019: FIFA Puskás Award
In 2019, Son scored a solo effort in the league that earned him the FIFA Puskás Award.
2019: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40
Since 2019, Son Heung-min has been listed in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40.
January 2020: Premier League Goal of the Month Award
In January 2020, Son Heung-min was awarded the Premier League goal of the month for December for his goal against Burnley.
February 2020: First Asian footballer to score 50 Premier League goals
On 16 February 2020, Son Heung-min scored two goals at Villa Park, earning a 3–2 victory for Tottenham, and became the first Asian footballer to score 50 goals in the Premier League, with 51 scored goals in 151 Premier League matches. During the same game in February 2020, Son played the full game despite suffering a fracture to his arm early on.
April 2020: Mandatory military service
On 6 April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic suspension of football in Europe, it was confirmed that Son Heung-min would carry out his mandatory military service for South Korea. He served with the Marine Corps for three weeks on Jeju Island after a two-week quarantine.
May 2020: Completed basic military training
In April–May 2020, Son used the suspension of football during the COVID-19 pandemic to complete South Korean mandatory military service by doing basic training in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps in Jeju, finishing in the top five of 157 trainees.
November 2020: Premier League Player of the Month award
Based on his performances, Son Heung-min received his third Premier League Player of the Month award on 13 November 2020.
December 2020: FIFA Puskás Award
In December 2020, Son Heung-min's goal against Burnley was recognized by FIFA with a Puskás Award as the best goal of the past 12 months.
2020: FIFA Puskás Award
In 2020, Son Heung-min won the FIFA Puskás Award for scoring a solo goal in the league.
January 2021: Cho So-hyun joins Tottenham Hotspur
In January 2021, Son Heung-min's counterpart on the Korean Women's National Team, Cho So-hyun, joined FA WSL side Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.
July 2021: Contract extension with Tottenham
On 23 July 2021, Son Heung-min extended his contract with Tottenham until 2025.
2021: Premier League Golden Boot Award
In the 2021-2022 season, Son Heung-min jointly won the Premier League Golden Boot award with 23 goals, becoming the first Asian player to win it.
February 2022: Selected as brand ambassador for Tumi
In February 2022, Son was selected as a brand ambassador for American high-end luggage brand Tumi, marking a new endorsement deal.
June 2022: Order of Sport Merit
In June 2022, Son Heung-min received the Order of Sport Merit, Cheongnyong class, for his achievements in football.
August 2022: Named brand ambassador for Calvin Klein Underwear in South Korea
On 7 August 2022, Son was named brand ambassador for Calvin Klein Underwear in South Korea, further expanding his brand endorsements.
2022: FIFA World Cup 2022
In 2022, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the FIFA World Cup.
2022: Became a brand ambassador for Burberry
In 2022, Son became a brand ambassador for British luxury fashion house Burberry, marking a significant partnership in the fashion industry.
February 2023: Racist abuse after West Ham game
On 19 February 2023, after scoring a goal against West Ham, Son Heung-min was subjected to online racist abuse.
March 2023: Named as the global face of Burberry's first campaign
In March 2023, Son was named as the global face of Burberry's first campaign under its new chief creative officer Daniel Lee, alongside Georgia May Jagger, marking a significant milestone in his endorsement career.
April 2023: 100 Premier League Goals
In April 2023, Son Heung-min became the first Asian player to score 100 Premier League goals.
August 2023: Tottenham's new captain
On 12 August 2023, it was announced that Son Heung-min had been made Tottenham's new captain.
2023: AFC Asian Cup 2023
In 2023, Son Heung-min represented South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup.
2023: Extended Contract
Son Heung-min's contract with Tottenham was set to expire in 2023, according to a deal signed in July 2018.
February 2024: Upgraded to global ambassador for Tumi
In February 2024, Son was upgraded to become a global ambassador for Tumi and appeared in its global campaign with the new TUMI 19 Degree Aluminum collection, elevating his partnership with the brand.
February 2024: Return from AFC Asian Cup
On 10 February 2024, Son Heung-min made his return from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, assisting teammate Brennan Johnson to score a late goal in a 2–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
2024: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 Rank
In 2024, Son Heung-min ranked second in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40.
January 2025: Tottenham extends Son's contract
On 7 January 2025, Tottenham announced they had exercised their option to extend Son Heung-min's contract by an additional 12 months until June 2026.
August 2025: Threw first pitch for Los Angeles Dodgers
On 27 August 2025, Son threw the first pitch for the Major League Baseball team Los Angeles Dodgers to kick-off their game against the Cincinnati Reds, marking a special appearance outside of football.
August 2025: Moved to Los Angeles FC
On 6 August 2025, Son Heung-min moved to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC in a deal worth $26.5 million, an MLS record, departing Tottenham Hotspur after 10 years.
September 2025: Became one of the most capped players for South Korea
On 9 September 2025, Son started against Mexico in an international friendly at Geodis Park in Nashville, joining current manager (then player) Hong Myung-bo and Cha Bum-kun in becoming the most capped player for the South Korean national team with 136 appearances, marking a historic milestone in his international career.
2025: UEFA Europa League Title
In 2025, Son Heung-min led Spurs to the UEFA Europa League title, his first major honor, ending a 17-year trophy drought for Spurs.
2025: Woman convicted for falsely accusing Son of fathering her child
In 2025, a woman was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Seoul for falsely accusing Son of fathering her child and blackmailing him into providing $300 million won ($200,000) in exchange for her silence.
Mentioned in this timeline
Qatar is a country located on the Qatar Peninsula in...
Burberry Group plc founded in by Thomas Burberry is a...
India officially the Republic of India is a South Asian...
Germany officially the Federal Republic of Germany is located in...
Harry Kane is a celebrated English professional footballer currently a...
Syria officially the Syrian Arab Republic is a West Asian...
Trending
3 months ago Yemen's Houthis Threaten Israel and Red Sea Shipping Amid US-Iran War Fears.
1 month ago Colin Rea shines, emerging as Cubs' unsung hero amidst Phillies baseball game.
1 month ago Pete Crow-Armstrong Faces Backlash After Mocking Dodgers Fans at Dodger Stadium.
2 months ago Kyrsten Sinema faces affair allegations as private texts surface in court filings.
1 year ago Anthony Rizzo's Potential 2025 Cubs Return: Fact vs. Sweet 2016 Memory
Hunter Pence nicknamed The Reverend is a retired American professional baseball player Primarily a right fielder and designated hitter he...
Popular
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
Graham Cunningham Platner is an American oyster farmer and Marine...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
Steve Hilton is a British-American conservative political commentator and former...
Marco Rubio is an American politician and diplomat currently serving...
Elon Musk is a businessman and public official primarily known...