Can Son Heung-min save LAFC season?

(News4usOnline) – A month after the Black & Gold signed South Korea player Son Heung-min, LAFC is still reveling in the presence of the global soccer star. But it may be too late to save its season. Currently, LAFC is in fifth place in the MLS standings with time running out. 

The team signed global superstar Heung-min with the intent to try to salvage the season. But the addition of Heung-min has given LAFC plenty of fan buzz. Heung-min played his last game with Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly game against Newcastle in his home country.  

Heung-min is regarded as one of the most talented and popular Asian football players in history.   

Heung-min had played for Tottenham for 10 years and got to win a trophy in his final season. While at Tottenham, Heung-min got to win his first-ever trophy in his career before his departure from Tottenham.

In the 10-year run with Tottenham, Son totaled 173 goals in all competitions and 101 assists. With the South Korea National Team, Heung-min is the captain and the leading scorer with over 130 appearances. The trophy that Heung-min won recently was the Europa League before his departure.

With South Korea, Heung-min has a total of 53 international goals. He participated in three FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and four AFC Asian Cups. Heung-min won a gold medal at the Asian Games.

Heung-min became the second South Korean player to join the Black and Gold after Kim Moon-hwan. Before playing with Tottenham, Heung-min played for two Bundesliga teams. He made his debut with Hamburger SV from 2010 to 2013. 

After Hamburger SV, Son played with Bayern Leverkusen in 2013 to 2015. When playing with Tottenham Hotspur he became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season. He made a reunion with Hugo Lloris after Lloris departed in the 2023/24 season.

Son and Lloris were at Tottenham for eight seasons together. 

Son made his debut with LAFC against the Chicago Fire on August 9. Son could be another key player that LAFC is looking for. With Son joining LAFC, the team now boasts of having two great forwards in Heung-min Son and Dennis Bouanga. 

That tandem gives LAFC a couple of high-scoring machines. Son could be following in the footsteps of Carlos Vela, Giorio Chiellini, Oliver Giroud, and former Tottenham teammates Gareth Bale and Hugo Lloris.

LAFC was linked with German forward Thomas Muller because of their relationship with Bayern Munich, but decided to sign Heung-Min. Son Heung-min is one of the best players in South Korea. He is more like the Korean version of Lionel Messi in football.

Son is the most expensive MLS transfer with an estimated $26 million. With Son’s debut with the Black and Gold, LAFC is fighting for a spot in the MLS Cup playoff race. There are just a few games remaining, and LAFC is currently in fifth place. 

After an MLS move with the Black and Gold, the Son LAFC jersey is the highest-selling jersey compared to LeBron James and Lionel Messi, according to Talksport. Son is a versatile player who can play anywhere forward.

Son scored his first-ever goal against FC Dallas on a world-class free kick. He is one of the top 5 best MLS players compared to his teammate Denis Bouanga and Inter-Miami player Lionel Messi.