Tottenham Hotspur loanee Luka Vuskovic, who is just 18 years of age, has been hailed as a 'hero' for saving the life of Eintracht Frankfurt's Rasmus Kristensen during their meeting with Hamburger SV on December 20, with the teenage sensation earning an esteemed Bundesliga award in the process.
Signed from Hadjuk Split in 2023, Vuskovic spent another two years with his boyhood club before moving to north London. Over the summer, as a way of getting senior minutes under his belt, the impressive 18-year-old was sent out on loan to Hamburg, and he's impressed in Germany's top flight.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Luka Vuskovic set a 5-year record in Europe's top five leagues by winning 18 aerial duels in a single Bundesliga match for Hamburg against Union Berlin.
Since his temporary switch, the highly thought-of Vuskovic has played 13 back-to-back 90 minutes, establishing himself as a key member of Merlin Polzin's side. Although he'll be returning to Thomas Frank in 2026, he's becoming a favourite in Germany – and his latest life-saving actions have added to that.
Tottenham's Vuskovic Earns Bundesliga Award for 'Life-Saving' Actions
Following his summer move, Vuskovic found himself sat on the bench for his side's league opener, a 2-0 loss to St. Pauli, but he's not missed a Bundesliga minute since. He started alongside Daniel Elfadli in their 1-1 draw with Frankfurt and his actions around the 65th minute have been praised the most.
The aforementioned Kristensen challenged for a ball with Hamburg's Miro Muheim before hitting the turd and lying motionless – and Vuskovic was quick to rush to his aid, ensuring the ex-Leeds United defender didn't swallow his tongue.
The Dane was soon back on his feet and, following additional checks, he was allowed to continue before being substituted moments later. Vuskovic's actions were branded as heroic and “potentially life-saving” and his response is all the more heroic given he is just 18 years of age.
Speaking to talkSPORT, European football expert Andy Brassell said: "He was a hero at the weekend when they played Eintracht Frankfurt. Ramus Kristensen smashed into Muheim, one of Vuskovic's Hamburg teammates, and they both looked in a pretty bad way."
"Despite only being 18, Vuskovic ran across and made sure Kristensen wasn't swallowing his tongue. He was super quick-thinking and lauded for that. It's just in keeping with the way that he's been, not just really good for a team, their aim really is to avoid relegation.”
Vuskovic, born in 2007, won the Bundesliga’s Fair Play Moment of the Month as a result of his quick-thinking, which prevented the prone Kristensen's airways being obstructed. In the footage, it's clear the Spurs loanee is putting his arm into Kristensen's mouth to stop his counterpart from swallowing his own tongue. Vuskovic, on the incident, said:
"I've never done anything like that before, but I've seen other players help out on the field in this way. In that moment, I saw the player lying motionless on the ground. I didn't really think much about it – I just wanted to help right away."
Can Vuskovic Work His Way Into Spurs' Starting Line-Up?
Those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion will be pleased to see that Vuskovic's loan spell is not only allowing him to play more minutes – but he is performing well in said action... but can he become a key part of the first-team picture in the English capital? Easily.
Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are, understandably, the go-to partnership at the heart of the backline for new manager Frank, with the likes of Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso behind them in the pecking order.
In March 2025, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Spurs were happy with Vuskovic's development on loan at Belgian outfit KVC Westerlo – but they still decided to send him out again for the 2025/26 campaign. There is more of a chance, however, that he'll stay put next term, with him looking to work his way into the heart of Spurs' porous defence.