After years of near misses and heartbreaks, Son Heung-min finally got to lift a major trophy with Tottenham — but the celebrations weren’t exactly perfect.
What should have been a smooth, joyful moment for the Spurs captain came with some awkward twists, including a minor injury and a surprising medal mix-up.
The Big Win That Ended Tottenham’s Trophy Drought
Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year wait for silverware by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final, thanks to Brennan Johnson’s goal.
Son, who started on the bench and came on later for Richarlison, played a part in this historic night, but his journey to glory wasn’t quite smooth sailing.
Medal Drama at the Trophy Presentation
Son, along with teammates Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur, were initially left without medals during the official presentation because UEFA ran out of them.
This meant the trio had to lift the trophy without their shiny prizes, which they eventually received later in the dressing room.
UEFA explained the mishap was because Tottenham brought more players and injured staff to the ceremony than expected, exceeding the medal count prepared for the event.
According to UEFA rules, the winners get 50 medals total, but only 30 are handed out on stage, with the rest given afterward.
A Bump on the Head During Celebrations
As if the medal confusion wasn’t enough, Son also ended up with a bruise above his eye during the celebrations.
A teammate accidentally pushed his forehead into the trophy while they were celebrating.
Son later shared a video on Tottenham’s social media, grinning and showing off the small injury, joking about the “bump” he got while lifting the trophy.
The bruise was still visible the next day as he left the team hotel to meet fans and board the team bus — a reminder that even winning moments can come with a few scrapes.
A Career Milestone for Son and Tottenham
This trophy marked the first senior title of Son Heung-min’s career.
Although he won the Asian Games with South Korea’s Under-23 team in 2018, this Europa League victory was his debut major club trophy.
It was also Tottenham’s first piece of silverware since their 2008 Carling Cup win under Juande Ramos.
Son Claims Legendary Status After Years of Waiting
In a post-match interview, Son couldn’t help but celebrate the historic achievement. “Let’s say I’m a legend.
Why not? Only today,” he said with a smile. “Seventeen years, nobody’s done it.
So with such amazing players, yeah today’s the day. Probably today I’ll say I’m a legend of this club.”
He described the feeling as a dream come true and said he was the happiest man in the world after finally achieving something he’d always hoped for.
Behind the Scenes: Who Got Medals and Why the Mix-Up Happened
Tottenham had brought their entire 23-man squad to the ceremony, plus injured players like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Lucas Bergvall.
Some players who barely featured in the Europa League campaign, like Sergio Reguilón, also received medals.
Reguilón himself admitted he hadn’t played a single minute in the competition but still got a medal.
“I’m not registered, but they’ve brought medals for everyone,” he told Spanish TV after the match.
UEFA apologized for the confusion and confirmed that the missing medals were delivered promptly after the ceremony.
What This Means for Tottenham and Son Moving Forward
Despite the hiccups, this victory is a massive milestone for Tottenham and Son Heung-min.
It ends a long drought and marks the start of a new chapter for the club and its star player.
And while the minor injury and medal drama made headlines, it won’t dampen the joy of finally bringing home a trophy after so many years.