Five-year-old Ryley Keys beats Son Heung-min for Goal of the Month

Tottenham Hotspur's Goal of the Month for May went to 5-year-old Ryley Keys, who scored a half-time penalty during a game against Arsenal, with Son Heung-min taking second place for his goal against Norwich City in the final game of the season.

Five-year-old Ryley Keys beats Tottenham Hotspur legend Pat Jennings in a half-time penalty at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on May 12. The goal was voted Goal of the Month for May by Tottenham fans. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Tottenham Hotspur's Goal of the Month for May went to five-year-old Ryley Keys, who scored a penalty at half time during a game against Arsenal on May 12, with Son Heung-min taking second place for his second goal against Norwich City in the final game of the season.

Keys topped the Spurs Goal of the Month ranking for his solo effort against Tottenham Hotspur legend Pat Jennings with 70.5 percent of the public vote. Son's goal against Norwich came in second with 16.1 percent of the vote, followed by another Son goal scored against Leicester City on May 1.

The Goal of the Month is determined based on a fan vote on the Tottenham website.

Keys was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a premature birth and his parents were told that he would never be able to walk. Undeterred, the football-loving youngster spent years building up the strength in his legs until he could kick a ball, initially with the help of a walker and then later without one.

After Keys' story went viral online, Tottenham players Ben Davies and Joe Rodon visited him at home. While playing football together, the three also FaceTimed Son, who's camera celebration has been adopted by Keys.

Following that visit, Keys was invited to take a penalty kick at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the May 12 London derby, with Jennings, the Tottenham goalkeeper from 1964 to 1977, between the posts. Keys beat his man, scoring the goal in front of a stadium full of cheering fans.

While he missed out on the top spot, Son was responsible for three of the nine goals shortlisted for the prize, with his first goal against Norwich also getting the Norwich. Having recently won the Premier League's Golden Boot, Son likely isn't too unhappy about dropping to second place in the Goal of the Month running.

Son is currently in Korea where he will be joining the national team for a series of friendlies starting Thursday. Once the international fixtures are out of the way, the rest of the Tottenham squad — sadly without Keys — will be joining Son here in Korea on tour in July.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]