Tottenham Hotspur superstar Son Heung-min was asked about his favorite players when he was growing up, and he revealed a clear preference between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The fact that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain dominant figures in world soccer today speaks to the incredible longevity of both players. Having been active professionally for over 20 years, they have influenced an entire generation of players who grew up admiring them. Now, Tottenham Hotspur‘s star Son Heung-min has named one of them as his favorite.
“Name your top five favorite players to watch when you were growing up,” Son was asked during a recent interview with Goal’s Fan Zone. After a brief pause, the forward began with the fifth spot. “Five, I will say Ji-Sung Park, national hero,” he said.
This choice, while unexpected at first glance, makes sense. Park was the highest-profile South Korean player in European soccer for years, winning 11 titles with Manchester United. It is therefore understandable that South Korean children, including Son, followed his career closely.
“Number four, Zinedine Zidane,” the Spurs star continued, referencing the legendary French midfielder. “Number three, Ronaldinho,” he added. Both Zizou and Dinho became household names through unforgettable matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which laid the groundwork for the iconic duels between Messi and Ronaldo.
The choice is between Messi and Ronaldo
With the top two spots remaining, it was clear Son Heung-min would reserve them for the two greatest stars of this generation. What wasn’t clear was in what order he would place them. “Number two… Lionel Messi,” said the South Korean forward, leaving only one spot unclaimed.
“Number one? Your favorite one?” the interviewer asked eagerly. “Ah, Cristiano Ronaldo,” Son replied after a brief moment of reflection. This choice is logical for several reasons. First, it’s apparent that, as a child, Son was more drawn to CR7’s characteristics.
Additionally, it’s possible that his preference is linked to his first answer. It’s clear that South Korean children in the 2000s closely followed Manchester United’s success in support of Ji-Sung Park, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo was a key figure in that team. This likely helped form the bond between Son and the Portuguese striker.
Like Ronaldo, Son shines in the Premier League
Before becoming Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo had an outstanding spell at Manchester United from 2003 to 2009, winning the Premier League three times and the UEFA Champions League once. In a similar vein, Son Heung-min has carved out his own legacy in England’s top flight.
After excelling in Germany with Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen, Son joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 and gradually established himself as one of the team’s standout players. In his 10 seasons at Tottenham, the South Korean forward has made 444 appearances and scored 172 goals—an impressive tally. However, he is still in pursuit of a major title, with only a runner-up finish in the Carabao Cup and another in the UEFA Champions League to show for his efforts so far.
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