Son Heung-min’s Emotional Victory Message—and the Unexpected Korean Actor Who Was There to Celebrate

Son Heung-min has finally lifted a major trophy—wearing the captain’s armband and standing tall at the center of Tottenham Hotspur’s first title in 17 years. Spurs clinched the UEFA Europa League (UEL) title with a 1-0 victory in the final held at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 22 (KST).

Son came on in the 67th minute, replacing Richarlison, and remained on the pitch until the final whistle, playing a vital role in securing the historic win. This marks the first major title of his professional club career.

While Son previously claimed gold with South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games, his senior-level career—both with the national team and Spurs—had been marked by a string of near-misses. He had reached the final in three major tournaments with Tottenham, only to fall short each time. This long-awaited victory is therefore all the more meaningful.

A Shout-Out to a Legendary Partner: Harry Kane

This unforgettable night wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Son’s longtime strike partner and close friend, Harry Kane, now playing for Bayern Munich. Though they’ve gone their separate ways on the field, their bond remains strong off of it.

In a post-match interview with German outlet RTL, Son sent an emotional message directly to Kane: “Harry, we finally won!” Kane, in turn, congratulated his former club with an Instagram Story.

Ironically, Kane also celebrated his own first major league title this season, leading Bayern Munich to the top of the Bundesliga and finishing as the league’s top scorer with 24 goals. Though he missed out on the title in his debut year, his comeback was nothing short of poetic.

The Most Iconic Duo in Premier League History

Son and Kane formed what is widely considered the most prolific attacking duo in Premier League history. Together, they combined for 47 goals in the EPL, breaking the long-standing record held by Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard. Their goal conversion rate—1.29 goals per 90 minutes—is a stat that stands unmatched in league history.

Across all competitions, the pair recorded a staggering 192 goals in 401 matches, accounting for 48% of Spurs’ total goals during their time together. That’s an average of 1.78 goals per game.

Son’s strength lay in his explosive speed and ability to break into space, while Kane excelled in link-up play and distribution. Under José Mourinho, they orchestrated Tottenham’s entire attack—like they were connected by telepathy.

Kane once called Son “the most underrated player in the world’s top league”, describing their partnership as something close to psychic.

Legends in Spurs History—and Beyond

Both Son Heung-min and Harry Kane are already cemented in Tottenham Hotspur’s history books. The "Son-Kane duo" will forever be remembered as one of the most iconic partnerships in both Premier League and Spurs history.

Though they never lifted a trophy together, their legacy continues to grow. And now, in the same season—on different teams, in different leagues—they each finally raised a long-awaited trophy. Their names are once again spoken side by side.

Son Heung-min's close friend, actor Park Seo-joon, also drew attention by showing up at the stadium. After the victory, fans were delighted to spot Park making a surprise appearance in a photo Son posted to celebrate the win.