Son Heung-min (LAFC) had a clear reason for not playing full time in two consecutive matches. It was not a simple substitution but carefully calculated management.
LAFC crushed Inter Miami 3-0 in the opening match of the 2026 Major League Soccer season on the 22nd (Korean time) at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. More than being called an opener, the match drew bigger attention as a showdown between Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi.
The two met again in an official match for the first time in eight years since the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League group stage. At that time, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur faced Messi of Barcelona, and Messi had the edge with one win and one draw. After a long time, Son Heung-min won the resumed duel.
The balance was first broken by LAFC. In the 38th minute of the first half, during Inter Miami's build-up from the back, De Paul's pass was cut off, and Eustáquio intercepted and immediately connected to Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min, with his back to the defense, changed direction and read the space ahead, threading a sharp pass at the timing of the run. Martinez calmly finished after receiving it to complete the opening goal.
The scene of the additional goal also began with Son Heung-min's movement. In the 28th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min advanced immediately after playing a pass from the back and disrupted the defensive line, and Buanga, receiving Tillman's forward pass, did not miss the one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Son Heung-min's positioning and movement broke the defensive spacing.
A cushion goal was scored late in the match. In stoppage time of the second half, Buanga broke through on the left and crossed, and substitute Ordas pushed it in to make the score 3-0. LAFC dominated Inter Miami in both play and result.
But a moment before the final whistle Son Heung-min's expression briefly hardened. In the 43rd minute of the second half, already leading 2-0, coach Mark Dos Santos called Son Heung-min to the bench and brought on Ordas. Son Heung-min could not hide his slight disappointment at not playing the full time.
However, this was not a spontaneous choice. After the match, Dos Santos gave a clear reason for managing Son Heung-min's minutes. He said, "Son Heung-min did not complete the preseason perfectly because of injury aftereffects," and explained, "Since he has just returned, we need to gradually raise his condition."
He added, "Even so, the effort and influence he has shown in the recent two matches have been top level," and emphasized, "We are using Son Heung-min to freely enter the space between the lines. When he stands in that position, the center backs are pulled out, creating space other players can attack. Son Heung-min is excellent at both making runs and using space."
Son Heung-min did not play a single minute in the five preseason matches LAFC played. It was unusual to see it as a simple rest. It contrasted with starters such as Buanga who split their minutes partly. At the time, the club explained, "Son Heung-min will start 2026 with a very busy schedule. He will juggle the MLS regular season and several competitions, and he is expected to serve as captain of the Republic of Korea national team at the FIFA World Cup."
The careful preparation of the season under injury management is proving itself in the results. Son Heung-min recorded one goal and three assists in the CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Real España, and he provided the game-winning assist in the showdown with Messi to lead a 3-0 rout.
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