‘Sonaldo’s’ goal of the season contender earns Spurs star a ‘Presidential’ praise

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks has likened Son Heung-min’s solo goal against Bournemouth to one scored by George Weah during his AC Milan playing days.

The President of Liberia famously netted a quite sensational individual goal against Verona in 1996, collecting the ball from his own box before galloping up the field, evading numerous challenges and brushing past defenders in almost dismissive fashion before stroking home. 

Can Son’s goal be compared to Weah’s? Five things to know…

• Tottenham Hotspur defeated Burnley 5-0 at home on Saturday.
• Son Heung-min scored his side’s third goal after he surged up the pitch from just outside his own box and struck past Nick Pope.
• Garth Crooks has subsequently compared the goal to that of George Weah’s in 1996 for AC Milan.
• The President of Liberia picked the ball up in his own box before travelling the entire length of the pitch and breaching Verona’s net.
• Both goals are comparable in style, with Son and Weah utilising their pace and precision to evade multiple challenges before poking home.

Son Heung-min meanwhile picked up the ball just outside his box, before showcasing exceptional pace and close control to charge up the pitch, he dribbled past the Burnley backline and topped off his run with a composed finish.

The goal was the third in Spurs’ 5-0 humbling of the Clarets and has kept Jose Mourinho’s men in the hunt for Champions League qualification, closing the gap to just six points on fourth-place Chelsea.

The rout naturally received a lot of plaudits, but most of the praise was reserved for Son after his goal of the season contender, drawing this rather glowing appraisal from Crooks.

In his column for BBC Sport, he wrote: “The last time I saw a goal scored of this quality it was by His Excellency the President of Liberia. He was then of course just George Weah playing for AC Milan.

“To run practically the entire length of the pitch, outrun a posse of defenders prior to putting the ball in the back of the net is quite extraordinary but that is what Son Heung-min did.

“The South Korea international left a group of Burnley players in his wake and scored what must be an early candidate for goal of the season. Quite an achievement to have something in common with the President of Liberia.”

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Mourinho: Son is Ronaldo-esque

From a presidential comparison to a “Phenomenon” resemblance. Mourinho also took the time to laud his No. 7 and even likened his goal to that scored by one of the greats: Brazil legend Ronaldo.

Mourinho famously worked at Barcelona as Sir Bobby Robson’s translator in 1996/97 and has drawn parallels between Son’s goal on Saturday to one he witnessed during his Camp Nou stint.

“Son’s is a tremendous goal,” Mourinho said. “Harry’s two [goals from] outside the box and the pass for the Moussa goal.

“A couple of better passes or choices and we could have had more.

“I remember when I was at Barcelona with Mr [Bobby] Robson and Ronaldo Nazario scored a goal similar to Son’s.

“And this was an amazing goal. I know that he is going to reach the face of the keeper and the control… he is unstoppable. The keeper is good, though, but he managed to put it in.”