Hong Myung-bo vs Son Heung-min
South Korea against South Korea. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Hong Myung-bo
South Korea · 1990–2002 · CB
- Almanac rating
- 87
- Rank in South Korea
- #4 of 33
- Caps
- 136 · 10 goals
- Clubs
- FC Pohang Steelers, Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol
In Gwangju on 22 June 2002 he walked up to take South Korea's fifth penalty against Spain and buried it, sending the hosts into a World Cup semi-final. He was voted the tournament's third best player and took the Bronze Ball, the first Asian to finish in a World Cup's top three, after 136 caps, four World Cups from 1990 to 2002 and a place in the 2002 All-Star team. Career record: 136 caps and 10 goals for South Korea; club career at FC Pohang Steelers, Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol.
Son Heung-min
South Korea · 2018–25 · LM
- Almanac rating
- 90
- Rank in South Korea
- #1 of 33
- Caps
- 144 · 56 goals
- Clubs
- Hamburger SV, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur
Against Burnley on 7 December 2019 he collected the ball outside his own penalty area and ran 71.4 metres past six defenders in eleven seconds before finishing, a goal that won him the FIFA Puskas Award. He captained Tottenham to the 2025 Europa League in Bilbao, shared the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah on 23 goals as the first Asian winner, and led South Korea to Asian Games gold in 2018. Career record: 144 caps and 56 goals for South Korea; club career at Hamburger SV, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur.
The verdict
The almanac puts Son Heung-min ahead by 3 rating points, 90 against 87.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.