Media outlets that selected 100 world-class soccer players ranked the top 100 players according to their performance level. At that time, the top 10 players were decided to be revealed after the ranking of 90 players from the 11th to the 100th. Son Heung-min, who was ranked 26th in 2022, has seen his ranking rise. He is now ranked 24th.
The Guardian said, “Son was not in a normal physical condition due to hernia. As a result, he underwent surgery after the end of the season. He had many difficulties due to the hernia problem. However, he worked hard to overcome it and engaged fiercely with Tottenham. However, the results did not come out as expected.” Son has been listed in the top 100 of the world’s soccer players for six years since 2018 when he was ranked 78th. The highest ranking is 19th in 2019. 토토사이트 추천
The Guardian said, “The fact that I played with a hernia problem all season and then opened up about it after the season was over explains everything about this Asian star,” adding, “Tottenham struggled, but Son Heung-min did not want to leave the team.” He explained, “The former Son Heung-min returned as he was freed from pain in the new season and armed with responsibility as Tottenham’s captain.”
Son’s injury in the 2022-2023 season has resulted in heavy-handed results. Son, who scored 23 Premier League goals in the 2021-2022 season and tied for top scorer alongside Mohamed Salah, scored double-digit goals last season but saw his Tottenham performance plummet.
In the end, Son underwent a hernia surgery and did his best to recover his condition. “Every moment was pain. It may sound strange, but I was okay when I didn’t exercise normally, but when I entered the stadium, I affected every movement including turn, run, stop, and shoot,” Son said in an interview while preparing for the new season.
The Guardian said, “Son Heung-min has been criticized by some people in 2023. Even he admitted that it was not enough for Antonio Conte. However, Heung-min has completely changed with Enzi Postecoglou. Harry Kane has left Tottenham, but Heung-min has become the captain. For the past 12 months, Heung-min has proved himself to be a powerful player, and now it is time to recognize him as a legend in English football.”
Son joined Tottenham in 2015. He scored 155 goals in 389 games. He is chasing after fifth-ranked Cliff Jones (159) as the sixth-ranked player in the club’s history. He also made a new history. Son became the first Asian player to lift the Golden Boot. He scored 23 goals in the 2021-2022 season, tying with Salah as the top scorer. In the final match of the 38th round of the Premier League, Son scored multiple goals and became the dramatic goal scorer.
Last season, he overcame bad news by scoring double-digit goals. Son Heung-min collapsed due to an orbital fracture during a match against Marseille in the UEFA Champions League. He quickly recovered to play in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and scored 10 goals in the Premier League. It was the seventh consecutive season of double-digit goals.
The pace of scoring is especially fast this season. This is in harmony with Postecoglou’s signature offensive soccer. Son has already scored 10 goals, scoring double digits for eight consecutive seasons. He is chasing after top scorer Erling Holan (14 goals at Manchester City) and runner-up Salah (11 goals at Liverpool).
Son made a great performance in the match against Newcastle United. Son made two assists in the first half alone. Destiny Udogi scored his Tottenham debut goal after receiving a pass from Son, and Hishalisson scored in about a month. Son himself scored his 10th goal after finishing the penalty kick he earned in the second half.
If Son re-signs, he will challenge himself to another milestone. Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has scored in double digits for 11 consecutive seasons. He is followed by Frank Lampard (10 seasons), Harry Kane, and Sergio Aguero (nine seasons). Son Heung-min, Thierry Henry, and Sadio Mane have scored in double digits for eight consecutive seasons.
He is continuing to leave his mark in the Premier League. With 113 goals overall in the Premier League, Son is tying for 23rd with Arsenal legend Ian Wright (113 goals). He is trailing Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard (120 goals). Son has posted 56 goals overall, tying for 29th with Trent Alexander Arnold of Liverpool and Eric Cantona.
He is continuing to write history. Son Heung-min took over the captaincy of Hugo Lloris (36) under Postecoglou. He is the first Asian captain in Tottenham’s history. Harry Kane, who was likely to be the next captain, left for Bayern Munich. Son had to shoulder heavy burden. Postecoglou left the team’s vice captaincy to new midfielder James Maddison and defender Christian Romero.
Wearing the captain’s armband, Son flew fast. Playing mostly on the sidelines, Son shifted to the central striker due to Hishalisson’s sluggish performance. He has adapted perfectly, leaving behind concerns. A local media reported that Son completely filled Kane’s absence.
According to the Guardian, Postecoglou highly praised Son, saying, “I was lucky to be with good strikers, but as you know, he is an elite striker in every aspect of the Premier League.” Along with Son, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) is also recognized as the best defender. It is the first time that Kim is listed in the Guardian’s list of the 100 best soccer players. At the first time, Kim was ranked 37th, proving that he is a world-class defender.
Regarding Kim Min-jae, the media said, “The fact that he appeared in the top 100 for the first time may seem unusual for Kim Min-jae, one of the best center backs in the world, but this means his tremendous rise,” adding, “It was only in 2021 that he played in European games after a good year in Fenerbahce and made history by winning the championship honor in Naples.”