Football Discussion | The Spurs legend becoming a star in LA

Los Angeles gained a new star this summer

If such a thing as a perfect transfer exists, Son Heung-min’s move to Los Angeles FC might just be it.

Author | Greg S

In his first two months in Major League Soccer, the South Korean forward has provided a rare alignment of a player finding the right club at the right time and a team securing the ideal signing for its ambitions.

Eight goals and three assists in nine appearances have helped transform LAFC into genuine contenders for the MLS Cup play-offs.

The final stretch of Son’s Tottenham Hotspur career had raised questions about his form. There were signs that his sharpness was fading, leaving doubts over whether he was experiencing a temporary dip or the onset of decline that often arrives in a player’s 30s.

His early performances in California have gone a long way to dispelling that concern.

While MLS is sometimes viewed as a gentler environment for players nearing the twilight of their careers, it presents its own tests. The pace, travel demands and physicality have undone plenty of high-profile imports from Europe. Some have even weakened the sides they were meant to elevate.

Son, however, has done what few of them managed: he has matched the marketing buzz with performances of genuine quality.

Similar or bigger impact than Lionel Messi? 

Two months later, Son has had a huge impact at Los Angeles FC.

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— Super News Affiliate (@eurosuperfootball.bsky.social) 7 October 2025 at 18:47

There are growing signs that Son Heung-min’s arrival is having a comparable effect to that of Lionel Messi.

From global media attention to surging ticket sales and his consistently high level of performance, Messi generated a wave of excitement around Major League Soccer not seen since David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy in 2007.

While Son’s numbers have yet to reach Messi’s stratospheric levels, the influence of his move has been unmistakable. His introductory press conference drew 200,000 views on YouTube, compared with Messi’s 337,000, while LAFC reported around 34 billion social media impressions following his arrival in August, a 594% increase.

According to LAFC’s general manager John Thorrington, Son’s shirt quickly became the highest-selling across all sports.

He announced himself on the pitch with a stunning free-kick against FC Dallas, his first goal for the club, a strike that caught the attention of Tottenham supporters who had long wondered why he was not trusted with more set pieces in north London.