Striker Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has received FIFA's Puskas Award for his wonder goal late last year. He is shown here on Dec. 7 last year celebrating his score in a game versus Burnley of the English Premier League. (Yonhap News)

By Jung Joo-ri and Lee Jihae

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has received the FIFA Puskas Award for his 70-m wonder goal scored last season against English Premier League team Burnley.

The Best FIFA Football Awards, honoring the world's top soccer players and coaches of the year, on Dec. 17 said, "The irresistible solo run by the Tottenham forward was voted the best goal."

Launched in 2009 and named after the late Hungarian player Ferenc Puskas, the annual award goes to the best goal of the year. Son is the first Korean and the second Asian to get the honor after Mohd Faiz Subri of Malaysia in 2016.

FIFA announced 11 candidates for the award in November and narrowed the field on Dec. 12 to three finalists: Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz and Son. Votes from fans counted for 50% and those from a panel of soccer experts accounted for the other half. Son received 24 points, with 13 from the panel and 11 from fans.

After news of his award broke, Son wrote on his social media, "It was a very special night, thank you so much all your votes and support!"

etoilejr@korea.kr