Son Heung-Min named Asian footballer of the year for the fourth straight season

For the sixth time and the fourth straight year, Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min has been declared The Best Footballer in Asia. Titan Sports, which organizes and presents the award, has announced the winner, and just like in past years, there’s nobody else who came close.

Sonny took home a clear 35% of the vote by Asian journalists for this award. This is not only far and away the biggest percentage of the vote Sonny’s ever received for this award, it’s the greatest share of the vote ANY Asian footballer has received since Titan Sports started the award in 2013. Sonny has now won six of the eight The Best Footballer of Asia awards — the only players not named Son Heung-Min to win have been Keisuke Honda in 2013 and Shinji Okazaki in 2016.

Iranian footballer Sardar Azmoun, who plays for Zenit St. Petersburg, came in a distant second. Brazilian Júnior Negrão, who plays for Koran side Ulsan Hyundia, was a close third. Eligibility for the award is open to footballers from AFC-affiliated countries, AND any footballer who plays for a club team in Asia, which explains why a Brazilian can place third in a best footballer in Asia competition.

Sonny’s not only the best Asian footballer, he’s one of the best players in world football, so this award obviously isn’t a surprise. It does, however, afford us another chance to see him smile, and that’s worth it. Congrats, Sonny!