Son Heung-min left off 2021 Ballon d’Or longlist

Spurs and South Korea star scored 17 times last season in most prolific English Premier Leaue campaign yet

Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Australia is only player from an AFC member nation on any of longlists for returning awards

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Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min celebrates after assisting a goal during the side’s 2-1 English Premier League win over Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 3, 2021. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:04pm, 9 Oct 2021Updated: 1:04pm, 9 Oct 2021

Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea star Son Heung-min has missed out on the Ballon d’Or longlist after France Football named the 30 players in the running for the 2021 award.

Last season Son had his most prolific in front of goal since arriving in England in 2015, scoring 17 goals in 37 games but did not make the cut for a second time in a longlist dominated by the winners of the English Premier League, Uefa Champions League and Euro 2020.

This year’s list is headed by six-time winner Lionel Messi, now of PSG, and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who has returned to Manchester United.

Uefa Men‘s Player of the Year winner Jorginho and last year’s Fifa Best Male Player Robert Lewandowksi also make the cut as the Ballon d’Or returns after being cancelled last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Son reacts after the English Premier League win over Aston Villa on October 3, 2021. Photo: EPA

Son has started off this season in similar form to how he ended the last, scoring three times for the club in their first six English Premier League games.

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