Seoul, Korea, November 7, 2019: In his athletic prime at 27, Son Heung-min continues to write his own legacy as the greatest South Korean goal scorer in European club football history, Yonhap News reports. With two goals against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League group match on Wednesday in Belgrade, the Tottenham Hotspur ace became the all-time leading South Korean scorer in Europe with 123 goals. He broke a tie with Cha Bum-kun, the 1980s Bundesliga legend who retired with 121. Son, who led his country to Asian Games gold in the final against Japan in 2018, began his top-tier European debut with Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga in 2010-2011. He had three goals in 14 matches that season, but his goal totals have steadily climbed since. He had an early-season transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in Germany to Tottenham in 2015-2016 and finished with eight goals in 40 matches in what was a transition season. But in the very next season, 2016-2017, Son set a new career high with 21 goals, which also broke Cha's previous record for most by a South Korean in one European season. Son followed that with campaigns of 18 goals and 20 goals. This year, he has seven in 14 matches, on pace to break his own single-season mark. Son had a head start to his European career, as he joined Hamburger SV's youth academy at 16. Cha didn't play his first full Bundesliga season until 26, due to complications surrounding his military service. Cha was already in his mid-30s when he netted goal No. 121. Son is still only 27 with at least a few more productive years left in him, barring injuries. Cha's legacy has stood the test of time and his name has long been synonymous with South Korean success in international football. But when Son's career is done, maybe about a decade from now, his name will mean just as much for the current generation of football fans.
Asian Games hero Son outscores Korean football legend Cha in Europe
