Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) recorded a historic victory over Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami).
LAFC routed Inter Miami 3-0 in the 2026 MLS season opener on the 22nd (all times Korea time) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the United States. The official attendance was 75,673, marking the largest crowd ever for an MLS season opener.
From the opening match it was a "superstar showdown." The biggest talking point was the matchup between Son Heung-min and Messi. The two players started for LAFC and Inter Miami respectively and drew the most attention in MLS. The head-to-head clash between the "Asian legend" Son Heung-min and the "god of soccer" Messi captured the attention of soccer fans around the world.
LAFC set the tone from the early stages with Son Heung-min at the center. In the 38th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min delivered a perfect pass to Martínez, who made a run to the right, and Martínez struck a first-time shot to beat the goalkeeper and open the scoring.
In the second half, on a counterattack, Tillman played a long pass that Buanga finished for an additional goal, and in stoppage time Buanga's cross was pushed in by Ordas to extend the score to 3-0. Son Heung-min played a central role in building attacks until he was substituted to the bench, making a decisive contribution to the team's victory.
The individual head-to-head rivalry does not end with just that day's result. Interest in the Son Heung-min and Messi "MVP race" in MLS this season is intense. Although Messi showcased his elite status by winning the league MVP for consecutive seasons through the 2024·2025 season, reports have continued that Son Heung-min has emerged as a strong challenger in the new season.
Among MLS experts, the analysis already emerged that "Messi could win a third consecutive MVP, but Son Heung-min is the only player who can threaten him." The British outlet The Athletic assessed that Son Heung-min completed his adaptation to MLS last season at LAFC with 12 goals in 13 matches and could rank among the league leaders in both goals and assists.
Furthermore, some forecasts predict Son Heung-min as this season's MVP. In expert evaluations, Son Heung-min was mentioned as a candidate who could surpass Messi or at least compete fiercely with him.
This is even more dramatic compared with the narrative that continued through last season. The background is that Messi reigned as an absolute presence after capturing the league MVP (Landon Donovan Award) for two consecutive seasons through the 2025 season.
This season-opening victory gives Son Heung-min more than a simple "season opener record." The match experience and result were enough to form an "MVP race" dynamic from the very start of the season. LAFC announced a satisfactory start in terms of ticket sales, records and performance, and Son Heung-min answered the support and expectations with performance.
The 2026 MLS season looks poised to be an "all-time MVP race." Messi's continued form and Son Heung-min's momentum suggest that the competition between the two legends will be the season's biggest focus for fans. It will be watched whether Son Heung-min surpasses Messi to record a personal best or whether Messi will once again hold the MVP throne.
/mcadoo@osen.co.r
[OSEN]