Top 10 Asian goal scorers in the Premier League: Son Heung-min’s absolute dominance

For a long time, Asian players were considered unable to compete with European players in terms of physicality, technique, and tactics. However, today, Asian players have significantly improved in these areas and have become outstanding performers. Many have made a name for themselves in Europe, especially in the English Premier League, widely regarded as the strongest league in the world. SPBO Live Score lists the Top 10 Asian goal scorers in the Premier League.

The top Asian goal scorer in the Premier League

Unsurprisingly, Son Heung-min leads this list with 127 goals in 333 matches, far ahead of the players behind him. This tally places Son among the top 20 goalscorers in Premier League history, ahead of legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo (103 goals), Didier Drogba (104 goals), and Steven Gerrard (120 goals).

Son is not only a prolific goalscorer but also a record-breaker. He became the first Asian player in history to win the Premier League Golden Boot, scoring 23 goals in that season, none from penalties. He also won the 2020 Puskás Award for his solo run from his own half, dribbling past several Burnley players before scoring. Last season, as captain, Son led Tottenham Hotspur to the 2024/25 Europa League title, their first trophy in 15 years. After leaving the club to join LAFC, Son will forever be remembered as a legend of Tottenham Hotspur.

Top 10 Asian goal scorers in the Premier League

Second on the list is Mark Viduka, an Australian striker who played in the early 2000s. During his Premier League career, he scored 92 goals, holding the record for the most goals by an Australian in the competition. His most explosive season was 2002/03, when he scored 20 league goals, playing a crucial role in helping Leeds United avoid relegation during a period of financial crisis. His most memorable performance came when he scored four goals against Liverpool in a dramatic 4-3 comeback win.

Next is another Australian, Harry Kewell, who scored 57 Premier League goals while shining for Leeds United and Liverpool. Along with Viduka, he formed a devastating Australian partnership that helped Leeds reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2001. Individually, Kewell won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the 1999/2000 season. After moving to Liverpool in 2003, injuries plagued his career. Although he enjoyed moments of glory, including winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006, he often had to leave finals early due to fitness issues. He retired in 2014 and later moved into coaching.

Another Australian on the list is Tim Cahill, an attacking midfielder whose entire Premier League career was spent at Everton. He scored 56 goals in over 200 appearances, with 31 of those coming from headers, despite standing only 1.78m tall. Cahill’s exceptional positioning and jumping ability made him a constant threat. Although he did not win any league titles, he made history as the first Everton player in 18 years to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2006.

Returning to South Korea, Hwang Hee-chan currently represents Wolves. In 127 matches, he has scored 24 goals, all for the club. The 2023/24 season was the best of his career, as he netted 12 Premier League goals and became the first Wolves player in over 50 years to score in six consecutive home matches in the top division. He combines physical strength with sharp one-touch finishing and remains one of Wolves’ most important players as the team battles to stay in the league.

English football has not traditionally been a fertile ground for Japanese goalscorers, but Kaoru Mitoma has performed impressively at Brighton. In the 2022/23 season, he scored seven goals, breaking the previous record jointly held by Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki, who each scored six. To date, Mitoma has scored 22 Premier League goals. However, his greatest strength lies not in scoring but in dribbling. His close control near the touchline makes him extremely difficult to stop without fouling. He remains a key player in Brighton’s mid-table side.

Despite not scoring many goals, Park Ji-sung deserves recognition as one of the greatest Asian players in Premier League history. Although he scored only 19 goals, his overall contribution was immense. Known for his incredible stamina, he earned the nickname “Three-Lungs Park.” He also possessed outstanding tactical discipline and football intelligence, making him a player every coach valued. In terms of achievements, Park was the first Asian player to win the Champions League and to appear in a Champions League final, a feat later matched by Lee Kang-in with PSG last season, underlining Park’s legendary status.

Top 10 Asian goal scorers in the Premier League

1. Son Heung-min - South Korea (127 goals, 333 appearances)

2. Mark Viduka - Australia (92 goals, 240 appearances)

3. Harry Kewell - Australia (57 goals, 274 appearances)

4. Tim Cahill  Australia (56 goals, 226 appearances)

5. Hwang Hee-chan - South Korea (24 goals, 127 appearances)

6. Kaoru Mitoma - Japan (22 goals, 103 appearances)

7. Park Ji-sung - South Korea (19 goals, 153 appearances)

8. Ki Sung-yueng - South Korea (15 goals, 187 appearances)

9. Shinji Okazaki - Japan (14 goals, 114 appearances)

10. Brett Emerton - Australia (13 goals, 247 appearances)

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