Son Heung-min (33, LAFC) led his team to a 3-0 victory over Inter Miami in the MLS season opener, assisting on the opening goal in a highly anticipated matchup against Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami).
Son started in the 2026 MLS season opener against Inter Miami at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 21 (local time), setting up David Martinez's opening goal in the 38th minute of the first half. The assist was his first of the MLS season, marking consecutive matches with an attacking contribution.
Son had previously delivered a dominant performance in LAFC's first official match of the year on February 18, recording one goal and three assists in the first half alone against Honduras' Real España in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round 1 first leg.
LAFC completed their dismantling of last season's MLS Cup champions with second-half goals from Denis Bouanga in the 73rd minute and Nathan Ordaz in stoppage time. Son received a standing ovation from home fans when he was substituted for Ordaz in the 88th minute with his team leading 2-0.
The match drew significant attention as the first MLS meeting between Son and Messi. Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, while Son moved to LAFC in August last year for a league-record transfer fee of $26.5 million.
Although LAFC's home stadium holds approximately 22,000 seats, the match was held at the 77,000-seat Memorial Coliseum to accommodate the star power of both players and overwhelming public interest. The match drew 75,673 spectators.