In Germany, he's gone from "Sonsation" to "Sonaldo." In South Korea, he's gone from an exciting talent to the country's brightest hope, and in Asia, he's gone from one of many exports to the Bundesliga and Europe in general to being one of the very best.
Son Heung-min's homeland and continent, in football terms, may not have had a year it will want to remember too much, but this player has gone from strength to strength. The 22-year-old forward had a good 2012, a very good 2013 and a great 2014, with 11 goals for Bayer Leverkusen already this season. There is no Asian star who has been as consistently good over these past 12 months -- impressive in a top league, good at the World Cup and great in the Champions League. Son has shone on all stages. Next year could be special indeed.
Predicting which way 2015 will go for this player is as tough for writers as it is for defenders who try to deal with those trademark runs from the halfway line and the shot from the edge of the area that seems destined for the corner. But it could be like this: it starts with the Asian Cup in January and a chance to lead South Korea to a first continental title since 1960.
With the form he has been in, Son has the capability to take the tournament by storm. With that success, he returns to Europe to help his club improve upon last year's place in the last 16. Then he ensures the team improves on fourth -- his winning goal in the final game against Werder Bremen last season clinched the final Champions League spot --- and then, he has the pick of the European cream to choose from.
It is not far-fetched. All the above could happen, though there is a worry that the World Cup in June and the Asian Cup in January (in such far-flung locations as Brazil and Australia to boot) could burn out the jet-heeled attacker, who has become increasingly important for club and country.
The man from Chuncheon, South Korea, a place famed for its lakes and a delicious, spicy chicken dish called dak galbi, took a little time to get into the groove at Bayer Leverkusen following his 10 million-euro move from Hamburg in the summer of 2013, but he is well and truly there now. His first season was good -- 10 goals and some match-winning performances -- but he didn't manage to replicate such form in the Champion League.
This time, it's different. His winning goal in the away leg of the playoff with FC Copenhagen helped to ease both player and Leverkusen into the tournament proper, and it was the first of five so far. A beautiful brace in a 2-1 away win at Zenit St Petersburg -- the first a run free from defenders and a cool finish, and the second a screamer from outside the area -- earned plenty of plaudits and played a big part in his team reaching the knockout stage.
He hit the ground running after the World Cup, where he was the best South Korean performer. It is not exactly a major compliment, but at least means his few weeks in Brazil were mixed results rather than terrible. The abiding image of the then-blond attacker was of tears falling following the 4-2 defeat at the hands of Algeria, easily the worst Korean performance on the global stage in the 21st century.
But as Son sank to his haunches, the reaction back home -- amid all the anger directed at all kinds of targets -- was that here was a player who could stand with head held high and leave South America with a reputation enhanced.
After a good start in the opening 1-1 game against Russia, his direct running gave Algeria serious problems in the second half. For a time, it looked as if the Taeguk Warriors would fight back and get something, and much of that was down to Son. He has still to consistently produce the goods for his country, but unlike a year or so ago, his place is assured even if his precise role is still not quite. All know he is best coming from a little deeper and wider, but such as the Korean struggles up front, he could end up as the lone striker.
That would be something of a waste. Since leaving for Germany as a teenager, the player has improved every year. His promise became potential, which became a product and something to be protected. While at Hamburg, the concern was whether he could become more consistent. Not so much the virtuoso strikes, nice as they are, but to contribute more often to the team and to show himself even when things were not going well. He's doing all that and more.
The season might have started slowly in terms of goals, but they are usually worth waiting for. Just look at his first against Zenit, for example. Millions of Korean fans and Bundesliga followers can close their eyes and see Son collecting the ball at the halfway line, running past defenders to shoot home from the edge of the area. Helped by new coach Richard Schmidt, Son is about more than goals these days. Awareness of what is going on and the vision to make a difference are increasingly part of the package.
It helps that he is in tune with his fellow forwards in Germany, something that is not yet the case for the national team, but regardless, he is no longer the player who receives the ball in his own half, puts his head down and just goes with just one thought on his mind. But the goals are still coming.
There is also a very distant cloud on the horizon in the shape of his Korean military service. In about six years' time, Son will have to return home to serve his country. Much can happen in that period -- a medal at the 2016 Olympics, perhaps -- that could grant exemption. Son had to watch from Germany as many of his national teammates received just that in September, as they won gold at the Asian Games. Bayer Leverkusen refused to release him for that tournament; understandably so, as it would be a third major tournament in the space of six months.
That cloud is still far away, however. There are still years to make hay while Sonaldo shines.