The season of Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham), who lifted his first trophy on the European stage, has come to a close with both emotion and regret. With his appearance in the final match of the 2024-2025 Premier League season thwarted, Son's record of nine consecutive seasons with double-digit league goals also came to a halt at eight consecutive seasons.

Ange Postecoglou, the head coach of Tottenham, reported on Son Heung-min's condition during a press conference held on the 25th (Korean time) ahead of the last round against Brighton. He said, "Son Heung-min's injury is still not fully healed. It would be difficult for him to play against Brighton," and noted, "He made many sacrifices to be ready for the UEFA Europa League final and has been under significant pressure."

In addition to Son Heung-min, key defender Cristian Romero also finished the season due to toe pain, and Yves Bissouma is also reported to be not in optimal condition.

Tottenham finally reached the pinnacle of European football by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final held in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korean time). After Brennan Johnson's winning goal just before halftime, they focused on defense and embraced the trophy for the first time in 17 years.

Son Heung-min came on as a substitute in the late stages of the second half and injected energy into the attack for a brief period. After the match, he was seen embracing his father, Son Woong-jung, and teammate James Maddison, shedding tears, and the scene of him lifting the trophy while wrapped in the Korean flag left a deep impression on both domestic and international fans.

In fact, Son Heung-min's participation in the Europa League final was uncertain leading up to the match. The effects of repeated foot injuries during the season persisted, and some local media even raised the possibility of his absence. Nevertheless, Son demonstrated determination despite the pain and made a direct appearance at the scene of victory as a substitute.

He remarked ahead of the final, "The reason I remained at Tottenham was because I wanted to achieve something no one else could," and noted, "Only the final piece remains." Son Heung-min's fervent desire ultimately became a reality.

However, the last page of the season ended somewhat regrettably. Missing the final match against Brighton, Son Heung-min's record of consecutive double-digit goals in the Premier League halted at eight seasons. He scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists in 30 league matches this season, leading the team's offense, but he could not fill the last puzzle piece.

As a result, Son Heung-min's season is marked more by the team's achievements than by personal records. Despite the ups and downs and pain in the Premier League, he remained the captain who embraced the European trophy. Furthermore, his decision to stay at Tottenham ultimately returned meaningful rewards.

For Son Heung-min, this season is summarized by the phrase of a victory that is more valuable than any splendid record.

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