Son Heung-min describes 'big honour' of winning seventh Best Footballer in Asia award

Son Heung-min has dedicated his Asian player of the year award to his family and country, with the South Korea captain targeting a “really successful” World Cup with his national team later this year.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward, who on Sunday secured the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot, was last month voted the continent’s standout player for 2021. It represented the fifth consecutive year that Son has secured the honour, and seventh overall.

Introduced in 2013, the Best Footballer in Asia award is organised and presented by Titan Sports in China. It is designed to be the continent’s equivalent to the Ballon d’Or. This year’s panel included experts from 37 of the Asian Football Confederation's 47 member associations, together with an additional 13 guest judges.

Son won his seventh award with 30.3 per cent of total votes, while Iran duo Sardar Azmoun (Zenit St Petersburg) and Mehdi Taremi (Porto) were second and third, respectively. The award is open not only to footballers from Asian Football Confederation countries, but also to foreign players plying their trade in Asian leagues.

Upon being presented with the trophy at the Spurs training complex, Son said: “It’s something I’ve always dreamt of. I can’t believe it because it’s always in my head as a dream. This award, for me, means so much. For my country as well and for my family. It’s a big honour.”

Son Heung-min has been named Asian player of the year for 2021. Photo: Tottenham Hotspur

Son, 29, is expected to once more be a key figure for his country at this year's World Cup. South Korea qualified for a 10th consecutive global finals in March by finishing second in Group A, despite a 1-0 defeat to the UAE in their final match. It marked their only loss