Son Heung-min Becomes First Asian Top Scorer in EPL History
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min became the first Asian to win the top scorer title in the English Premier League (EPL). Photo by AP Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, who became the first Asian to win the English Premier League (EPL) Golden Boot, has been spotlighted by Japanese and Chinese media as a "pride of Asia."
On the 23rd at midnight (Korean time), Son Heung-min scored two goals in the 2021-22 EPL final Round 38 away match against Norwich City at Carrow Road in Norwich, UK, leading his team to a 5-0 victory.
With his 22nd and 23rd league goals, Son Heung-min finished the season as joint top scorer (23 goals) alongside Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). He is the first Asian to win the EPL Golden Boot. However, all 23 of Son’s goals were field goals scored during play, whereas Salah’s 23 goals included 5 penalty kicks (PK).
Following Son Heung-min’s Golden Boot success, on the same day (23rd), Japan’s Nikkan Sports reported, "Son Heung-min scored two goals in the EPL final match to become the first Asian to claim the EPL Golden Boot." Japanese football media Goal.com also stated, "Son Heung-min achieved the feat of being the first Asian EPL Golden Boot winner."
Japanese football media Soccer Digest described Son’s final goal in the last match as a "masterpiece." Son’s 23rd goal, scored in the second half, was a beautiful curling mid-range shot completed just outside the penalty box, known as the "Son Heung-min zone." Japan’s largest portal site Yahoo Japan also featured the news of Son’s Golden Boot at the top of its headlines as a major news story.
Chinese media also lavished praise on Son Heung-min. Tencent Sports of China reported, "Son Heung-min has done it again," adding, "He led Tottenham to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and won the Golden Boot, becoming the first Asian player in EPL history to do so." They continued, "An Asian player has created a legend in the world’s top league."
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s official website congratulated Son Heung-min with the headline, "Son Heung-min makes history by entering the list of Golden Boot winners," and the UK’s BBC highlighted the contrast with Salah, whose scoring declined in the latter part of the season, stating, "Unlike Salah, Son Heung-min scored 9 goals in the last 10 matches to win the Golden Boot," and emphasized, "Son also recorded a hat-trick in the 4-0 victory against Aston Villa on April 4."
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