The stage is set. Son Heung-min has become the center of the 2026 MLS MVP race.
The MLS official website on Feb. 22 (Korean time) released the new-season outlook of an MLS Spanish edition expert panel composed of nine members including commentators, reporters, correspondents and analysts. The message carried more weight than the reputations. The conclusion was simple. There are effectively two MVP candidates: Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi.
LAFC on the 22nd defeated Inter Miami 3-0 in the 2026 MLS season opener held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the United States. Official attendance was 75,673. It is a new record for the largest crowd at an MLS season opener. They captured both commercial success and the result.
This match was not a simple season opener. It was a head-to-head clash between Asia's symbol Son Heung-min and world football icon Lionel Messi. The matchup, which had been postponed because the players were in different conferences, finally took place and the stage moved to the 77,000-seat Memorial Coliseum.
The atmosphere on site leaned toward Son Heung-min. U.S. Yahoo Sports reported, "Cameras were everywhere, and there were Messi jerseys, but the presence of Son Heung-min's fans was stronger."
The match play also proved the protagonist. From the start Son Heung-min tore through space. In the sixth minute of the first half he created a one-on-one chance but the finish was disappointing. In the 14th minute a free kick and a second-ball volley were blocked by the defense. But his influence continued.
In the 38th minute of the first half, after winning the ball high up the pitch, Son Heung-min's pass accurately found Martínez making a run to the right. A one-touch shot—opening goal. The balance of the game was broken. Messi had occasional flashes, but it was insufficient to unsettle LAFC's defensive organization.
The second half was a tactical battle. Miami increased the intensity of their press but no decisive moments emerged. Instead LAFC sealed the game with a counterattack.
In the 28th minute of the second half, Tilman's long pass was instinctively controlled by Bouanga, who beat the goalkeeper and added a second goal. In the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, Ordaz shoved in Bouanga's low cross to complete the 3-0.
Until he was substituted in the 44th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min was the starting point and the connecting link of the attack. In the 43rd minute of the second half he broke through a narrow space to provide a decisive pass to Bouanga, but it did not result in a goal. The stat line shows one assist, but the felt presence was greater than that.
The meaning is even greater. This is Son Heung-min's first victory over Messi. When they met twice in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League group stage, Messi had the edge with one win and one draw. It was a reunion after 2,699 days, and this time the result was different.
The weight of the loss is more than a single defeat. The match drew worldwide attention as a showdown between Messi and Son Heung-min. The two players clashed twice in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League group stage when they represented Tottenham and Barcelona, respectively. At that time Messi led with one win and one draw.
In the MVP poll conducted right after such a match, among nine voters Diego Valeri, a match analyst; Michele Jannone, a reporter; and Miguel Gallardo, an analyst, cast their MVP votes for Son Heung-min. The other six leaned toward Messi's possibility of winning a third consecutive award. The candidate pool itself was narrowed to two. The narrative of the league became clear.
Son Heung-min also topped the list in the golden boot outlook. Analyst Valeri, studio host Antonella Gonzalez and analyst Andrés Aguya picked Son Heung-min. Messi, German Berterame and Denis Bouanga each received two votes, but Son Heung-min received the most votes. Analyst Valeri chose Son Heung-min for both MVP and golden boot. It's closer to conviction than mere expectation.
Team outlooks diverged. Inter Miami led with six votes as the favorite to win the MLS Cup. LAFC received two votes, and one vote went to San Diego FC. In the Supporters' Shield predictions Inter Miami had four votes and LAFC three, a narrow margin. Team-level assessments leaned toward Messi, but the individual award race is a close contest.
And the season opener took place. On the 22nd at the LA Memorial Coliseum, Son Heung-min answered with the result. His assist for David Martínez's opening goal in the 38th minute of the first half broke the balance of the match. LAFC routed Inter Miami 3-0. While Messi was silent, Son Heung-min left his mark.
The momentum is already continuing. Son Heung-min recorded one goal and three assists against Real España in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and also added attacking points in the season opener. It remains to be seen whether he can maintain this form.<
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