Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham) has set a new milestone in the club's history. However, while he played a role as a "goal point," he received an average rating of 6.
On the 6th (Korean time), Son Heung-min played in his 450th career match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, during the 31st round of the 2024-2025 English Premier League (EPL) home match against Southampton, placing him 7th in total appearances in club history.
That day, Son Heung-min started the match and covered the ground for 57 minutes. Playing as a left winger, he recorded an assist for Brennan Johnson's opening goal in the 13th minute, contributing to the team's 3-1 victory.
He was substituted in the 57th minute for Wilson Odobert as preparation for the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg against Frankfurt (Germany) on the 11th.
The 450 matches are particularly significant for Son Heung-min. It is the 7th most appearances in club history and the most by an active player. This figure has not been achieved by former Tottenham players Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) or Hugo Lloris (Los Angeles).
Son Heung-min's records are also noteworthy in the Premier League. With this match, he recorded a total of 331 appearances in the EPL, placing him 99th overall. After entering the top 100 in the match against Chelsea on the 4th, he climbed another spot just two days later. Among former Tottenham players, Lloris ranks 73rd with 361 appearances, while Kane is ranked 119th with 320 appearances.
The victory over Southampton was important from a team performance perspective. Tottenham had been struggling with 1 draw and 3 losses in the last four matches, but this victory broke the streak, securing a win after five games. With 37 points (11 wins, 4 draws, 16 losses), they moved from 16th to 13th in the league, marking their first home victory in the EPL since February 17 against Manchester United.
Brennan Johnson was the hero of the match. After scoring the opening goal in the 13th minute, he netted the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, achieving a brace. Son Heung-min played a pivotal role in the buildup to his first goal. During stoppage time in the second half, he earned a penalty kick opportunity for a hat trick but graciously allowed Mathys Tel to take the kick, which Tel successfully converted for his first league goal since joining Tottenham.
On the other hand, Southampton remained at 10 points (2 wins, 4 draws, 25 losses) after the defeat. Their relegation has been confirmed regardless of the results of the remaining 7 matches. If they do not add any points, they will tie the record for the lowest points in a season with 11, set by Derby County in the 2007-2008 season.
According to the statistics media "Footmob," Son Heung-min recorded a passing accuracy of 82% (18/22), 1 key pass, 39 touches, 1 shot, and 1 successful dribble (1/4), while failing in 2 ball contests. Only one shot was blocked by the defensive wall and did not lead to an effective shot.
The British media "Football London" noted that Son Heung-min "led Johnson’s opening goal through link-up play with Spence," but assigned him an average rating of 6.
Conversely, 'Tottenham Hotspur News,' which primarily covers Tottenham news, awarded the lowest ratings of 4 to Son Heung-min and Dominic Solanke among the starting 11.
BBC evaluated, "Son Heung-min played in his 450th match for Tottenham. However, he was remarkably quiet."
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