With the festive season just around the corner, Burberry has unveiled its 2025 Holiday campaign, bringing together some of the biggest names in sports, film and television and, of course, fashion. Aptly titled ‘Twas The Night Before…, the accompanying short film features South Korean footballer and brand ambassador Son Heung-min, who attends a Christmas party hosted by legendary English comedian and actress Jennifer Saunders alongside supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Ncuti Gatwa and model-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as fellow guests.
Set in a cosy London townhouse, the campaign perfectly embodies the spirit of the festive season, from the warmth of reunion to the joy of giving along with a touch of chaos—all wrapped up in classic Burberry elegance. In this ELLE Singapore exclusive, Son opens up about working with Burberry, starring in the campaign and his dream Christmas dinner, and reflects on festive moments shared with loved ones and former Tottenham Hotspur teammates over the years.
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What was it like being part of the Burberry Festive 2025 campaign shoot?
It was based on the campaign concept, but it was my first time being invited to a big Christmas home party, so it was very fascinating and fun. It was an honour to be part of a campaign shoot with other famous people.
What is your favourite Burberry piece, and how does it make you feel when you wear it?
I like Burberry’s trench coats and I recently wore one. Its trendy design was very good to match the outfit and it felt like I was wearing something of value that’s been remembered and maintained for a long time.
What was the most memorable moment from the campaign shoot?
Delicious-looking food, packaged gifts, sparkling decorations, and people with big smiles... I would be very happy if I was actually invited to such a Christmas party. If I ever get the chance to host a Christmas party, I'd love to make it look similar to what it is in the campaign shoot.
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How do you like to unwind during the holiday season?
Even during the holiday season, absolute time off is not possible. I still need to train myself to maintain my physique and I also need to fulfill my services for brands that I’m contracted as an ambassador. Sometimes I feel like I’m busier during the holiday season. But I try to take as much time as possible out of the schedule to spend time with people that I love and care about and try some delicious foods that I wasn’t able to try during the season.
If you could invite three footballers to your Christmas dinner, who would they be and why?
I want to invite all teammates of Tottenham Hotspur who spent many Christmas seasons with me until last year. If I need to pick only three of them, I’ll invite Ben Davies, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris. Then send other teammates the invitations to join us online!
Which teammate would make the best Santa Claus?
I think it’s Hugo Lloris. He has the perfect beard for Santa Claus, doesn’t he?
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What is your ultimate festive tradition?
Until last year, I was in the UK at the end of the year playing in the Premier League and it was a very busy time with many important matches, so I didn’t have time to care about anything else. But still, I tried to make the time to eat something special with my family and teammates.
What’s your favourite match played during the festive season?
There were many important end-of-year matches, but if I need to pick one, it will be the match against Burnley in 2019. The match result was perfect and Puskas was awarded from this match.
What is your earliest memory of the festive season?
The most memorable end of year memory is the training with my dad on the playground covered in snow. He swept the snow off the playground and covered the frozen ground with sand. Even these days, when I’m standing on the field on a cold day, I often think of that time.
What are you most grateful for this year, both on and off the pitch?
I'm grateful that I’m receiving a lot of support and love from fans and people around me. It’s hard to describe how grateful I feel every single day. As I always say, the support and love from the fans make me play better to make them happy. I’ll keep doing my best to create happy memories and moments for the fans in 2026.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.