South Korean football icon, Los Angeles FC forward, and Ralph Lauren Fragrances&rsquo; regional brand ambassador, Son Heung-Min speaks to L&rsquo;OFFICIEL SINGAPORE in Seoul about his top career moments, the scents that bring him comfort, and his dreams for the future.

L'OFFICIEL SINGAPORE November Issue

Three months ago, football fans everywhere were left shaken. South Korean football star, Son Heung-Min announced his departure from Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League, after a decade-long run where he became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22, to join Los Angeles Football Club. Now, after the dust has settled, the global icon, who also captains the national team of South Korea, has begun the next chapter of his career, in his typical explosive pace. When we met Sonny in early July, ahead of his big announcement, he was all calm, sharing with L&rsquo;OFFICIEL SINGAPORE what he thinks makes a great professional athlete, &ldquo;Stay humble, work hard, and always respect the people around you. There will always be tough moments, but if you give your best, treat people well, and never lose sight of why you started, good things will follow.&rdquo;

Hi Sonny! Many people have evolving relationships with fragrances. What was your first impression of the Polo 67 fragrance and how does it resonate with you now? 
I remember the first time I tried Polo 67 &mdash; I loved how fresh and sporty it felt. Now, with the new EDP, I feel there&rsquo;s something even cooler about it. The smell is still light and fresh, but a little bit stronger, which people around me have noticed and appreciate.

What moments do you find best suited to wear Polo 67?
I love to wear Polo 67 when I&rsquo;m getting ready for something I am excited about &mdash; before training, travelling to a new place or just for dinner with friends. Polo 67&rsquo;s freshness gives me the feeling of being ready and clean.

Are there other daily or familiar scents that bring you comfort?
The smell of freshly cut grass will always be special to me &mdash; it takes me straight back to my early football days. That feeling of being on the field, working hard, dreaming big. I also like softer scents like vanilla &mdash; they help me relax, especially after a match or long f light. It&rsquo;s those simple smells that bring comfort when everything else gets hectic.

With your tight schedule and tendency to be in different time zones, as well as the pressures of being an athlete, what do you like to do most in your own quiet time? 
I really value the time that I get to spend with my family. Sharing a meal together, especially when it&rsquo;s my mum&rsquo;s cooking, brings me a lot of comfort. It&rsquo;s something simple, but it helps me feel rested and happy. I also like listening to music or playing games &mdash; small things that allow me to relax and enjoy time with the people closest to me.

Describe your style and your relationship with fashion. 
I think my style is quite simple &mdash; clean, comfortable, and usually relaxed. But I also like adding something a little different to make it stand out, like a unique jacket or a well-cut pair of pants. Just one piece that gives the look a bit of character. Fashion, like fragrance, is a way to express yourself without saying much. When it feels right, you naturally carry yourself with more confidence.

Name the career moments that you are proudest of thus far.
Winning the Europa league with teammates and the Golden Boot will always be a special memory. There are also moments like when I was selected to play for the Korean national team for the first time and when I became the captain of the national team and the club. To play for my country and to represent the club and the fans is something I took a lot of pride in, also [it came] with a lot of responsibilities.

And the biggest challenge that you have overcome so far?
One of the hardest challenges was moving to Germany at the age of 15. I left my family and adjusted to a new culture and language &mdash; it was tough, and I remember feeling lonely at times. But looking back at it, it was such a key moment in my life where I learnt so many things that helped me become a better person and a better player.

What advice would you give someone aiming to be a professional athlete?
Stay humble, work hard, and always respect the people around you. There will always be tough moments, but if you give your best, treat people well, and never lose sight of why you started, good things will follow.

What are your dreams for the future? 
I want to keep doing my best &mdash; for the fans who&rsquo;ve supported me through everything and for myself. So when people look back at my career, I hope they remember not just the moments of goals or the wins, but that I gave everything I had.

"When people look back at my career, I hope they remember not just the moments of goals or the wins, but that I gave everything I had."

Photography PARK JONGHA 
Editor-in-Chief, Creative Direction and Executive Production IAN LEE
Styling LEE HYEYOUNG
Production and Videography EUGENE SIOW 
Hair EOM JUNGMI
Makeup KANG YOONJIN
Production Assistants LEE JUNHO and MOON CHAERIN

Sonny's Story: Son Heung-Min On Being A Game Changer

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