"Ah, Eden Hazard is better than Gareth Bale and Ryan Giggs."
Live Foot, a British media outlet, reported on the 17th (Korean time) that "Madison posted a filter content selecting the top 10 left-wing legends on his personal social media."
In the video, Madison placed Premier League alumni left wingers from 1st to 10th position, and when Son Heung-min appeared, he smiled and quickly placed him at the top without a moment's hesitation.
In 2nd place was Chelsea legend Eden Hazard, 3rd was Tottenham alumni Gareth Bale, 4th Ryan Giggs, 5th Sadio Mané, 6th Raheem Sterling, 7th David Ginola, 8th Marcus Rashford, 9th Alexis Sánchez, and 10th Marc Overmars.
However, Madison's ranking is interpreted as a result that reflects a certain degree of personal rapport. In fact, there are assessments that Son Heung-min is clearly inferior compared to the peaks shown by Hazard, Bale, and Giggs.
In general player rankings, Son Heung-min often competes with contemporaries Mané and Sterling. Therefore, mentioning Son Heung-min as 1st by Madison demonstrates various intentions.
Naturally, Madison's choice, which placed Son Heung-min in an all-time great category, carried a message beyond simple friendship. In fact, Madison and Son Heung-min's special chemistry had been anticipated since last year.
Ahead of the 2023-2024 season, Madison joined Tottenham and took on the role of vice-captain, pairing with Son Heung-min as the 'captain-vice-captain' duo to lead the team's early momentum. However, Madison suffered a long-term injury in the middle of the season, which soon led to a decline in team performance.
The deep bond between the two was further solidified during last season's UEFA Europa League victory. On the day Tottenham finally lifted the trophy in Europe, Son Heung-min shed tears immediately after the match, and Madison hugged him and cried together. Madison left a heartfelt congratulatory message on social media, saying, "I’ve never been this happy about someone’s victory in my life. You fully deserve to hold this trophy. Love you, bro."
On Son Heung-min's birthday, Madison also posted their victory scene again on social media, writing, "Happy birthday, my friend! Love you, bro. Our captain," showcasing their unwavering friendship. Madison's persistent display of 'captain obsession' on social media was worthy of praise as the 'social life GOAT.'
However, the atmosphere surrounding Son Heung-min is not entirely warm. Throughout this summer, transfer rumors have persisted, and there is considerable scrutiny regarding the decline of '33-year-old veteran' Son Heung-min's abilities. British media outlet 'To the Rain and Back' reported, "Recently, Son Heung-min's speed has slowed down, and his explosive acceleration has disappeared," stating, "A separation may be best for both the club and the player."
Nevertheless, the media did not deny Son Heung-min's significance. "He is a legend of Tottenham and still deserves to remain. Son Heung-min's choices deserve to be respected, no matter what decision he makes," it emphasized. Indeed, Son Heung-min is still regarded as a symbol of Tottenham and is remembered as one of the most lethal figures in left-wing history.
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