Summary
Heung-min Son is a renowned football player in the Premier League due to his consistency and attitude in the game.
Lamine Yamal, at 17, is considered the next soccer superstar with skills reminiscent of Messi and Neymar.
Featured players like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappe are excelling globally in their respective clubs.
In every league, there are certain football players who are more memorable than others. In the case of Son Heung-min, it would be safe to say that he is one of the Premier League's most famous.
Having joined Tottenham Hotspur ten years ago, the South Korean has left his mark on an entire generation through the consistency of his performances - he is undoubtedly one of the best wingers in the world - and the attitude he has consistently displayed. And while he may be a star of the game himself, there is nothing to stop him from having great admiration for many of his peers.
When recently asked by GOAL to name the five players he considers to be the best on the planet today, the Chuncheon native was quick to reveal the choices shared by many observers.
5 Lamine Yamal
Barcelona — Spain
At just 17 years of age, Lamine Yamal is already a superstar of world football. A dazzling performer since his debut for Barcelona, the young winger also seized the opportunity to reveal himself to the public at large at Euro 2024, where he played a key role in helping Spain to victory.
Lively, instinctive and unhinged, the Catalan is already seen as the heir to Lionel Messi, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, although it is his admiration for Neymar Jr that shines through most in the way he plays and behaves. It now remains to be seen whether he can match the two geniuses and, more importantly, supplant them. But there is a long way to go, and he has only just begun.
|Lamine Yamal 2024/25 Stats at Barcelona|
|Appearances|37|
|Goals|12|
|Career Span|17|
|Minutes played|3.002|
|---|
4 Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid — England
MixCollage-01-Dec-2024-03-56-PM-9165
The maturity and high standards that Jude Bellingham has set himself since the start of his career almost make us forget that he is still only a 21-year-old boy. Already a legend with his parent club Birmingham City, the England international (40 caps, six goals) then went on to shine in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, before embarking on a European conquest with Real Madrid.
Now a permanent fixture in Carlo Ancelotti's team, the attacking midfielder, named La Liga's best player last season, intends to continue to shine as he consolidates his status as a generational talent. Already all the makings of a great player.
|Jude Bellingham 2024/25 Stats at Real Madrid|
|Appearances|37|
|Goals|11|
|Career Span|11|
|Minutes played|3.066|
|---|
3 Harry Kane
Bayern Munich — England
Harry Kane individual awards 2023/24
With a small smile on his face, Son named his former team-mate Harry Kane as one of the best players in the world today. But the fact that they spent seven years together defending the colours of Tottenham Hotspur is certainly not the only reason for the Englishman's presence.
Ranking the 10 best England strikers in football history ft Harry Kane, Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney Related
10 Best England Strikers in Football History (Ranked)
Considering their contribution to the England national team, here are the best ever English strikers.
Ever since signing for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, the Three Lions' all-time top scorer has been breaking records - both at club level and in the Bundesliga. This is yet further proof of his immense talent, which could soon be rewarded with a long-awaited first major trophy.
|Harry Kane 2024/25 Stats at Bayern Munich|
|Appearances|36|
|Goals|32|
|Career Span|11|
|Minutes played|2.778|
|---|
2 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool — Egypt
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah raises a fist of acknowledgement
There are certainly few players better placed than Son to comment on the level reached by Mohamed Salah since his arrival in the Premier League. The duels between the two men have been numerous (17) and the Egyptian has regularly got the better of Spurs (11 wins, three draws and three defeats). But perhaps the former Roma player had never excelled as much as he did in this 2024/25 season.
As the Premier League's top scorer and top passer, there is every chance that he will also be awarded the title of Player of the Season. A prize which would then crown a very probable championship title (his second with Liverpool) so deserved by Arne Slot's team and in which Salah will have played a major part.
|Mohamed Salah 2024/25 Stats at Liverpool|
|Appearances|42|
|Goals|32|
|Career Span|22|
|Minutes played|3.606|
|---|
1 Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid — France
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe celebrates with arms outstretched
Kylian Mbappe's reputation speaks for itself. His performances, meanwhile, are merely the authoritative argument. An exceptional player, and Ballon d'Or front runner, the French striker joined Real Madrid this summer after seven years with Paris Saint-Germain. Explaining himself, Son said:
"Way too many good players. But I'll say Mbappe. He is just phenomenal, the ability, the speed, he's skilful. He does almost everything."
Ranking the 10 most expensive strikers in football history Related
10 Most Expensive Strikers in Football History (Ranked)
With money being king in the modern game, we looked at the most expensive strikers of all time.
And although his debut at the Bernabeu may not have been the one he would have liked, it didn't take long for the Los Blancos' No.9 to remind everyone why he is considered one of the best players on the planet. Already the scorer of 18 league goals, he now has a total of 28 in all competitions. A flattering record, to which should be added four assists, a Club World Cup and a European Super Cup. And that's just the beginning.
|Kylian Mbappe 2024/25 Stats at Real Madrid|
|Appearances|42|
|Goals|28|
|Career Span|4|
|Minutes played|3.49|
|---|
All statistics per Transfermarkt — correct as of 13-03-2025