New LAFC signing Son Heung-min is on course to smash Lionel Messi’s Major League Soccer record, according to a club official.
The South Korean swapped Tottenham for Los Angeles this summer, joining the club in early August.
Son was a fan favourite in North London, scoring 173 goals and producing 101 assists across 454 games for the club.
The forward capped off his time with Spurs by helping the club to the Europa League crown in May – his only major trophy with Tottenham.
During his time in the Premier League, Son became one of the biggest individual superstars in the competition.
Thanks to his status in the sports world, signing the South Korean was a major coup, not only for LAFC but also the competition.
Son set to break Lionel Messi’s record
According to the vice president of LAFC, John Tarrington, Son has one of the best-selling jerseys in the competition.
Lionel Messi set the MLS record for shirt sales back in 2024, selling 500,000 Inter Miami tops after joining the club in a blockbuster transfer.
When talking about Son’s numbers, Tarrington said: “This is now the second week in a row that we’re not just talking about the best-selling soccer jersey in MLS.
“It’s the best-selling jersey of any sport in the world right now.”
Latest reports indicate that Son is on track to sell over a million jerseys in his first month with the club.
The ‘Son effect’ in Los Angeles
With over 300,000 people, Los Angeles is home to the biggest South Korean community outside of the country itself.
The Korea Times report that the price of attending LAFC matches has skyrocketed from £300 to around $1,5000 since Son’s arrival.
The forward made his Los Angeles debut last week, playing 30 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire.
Joining LAFC has also allowed Son to reunite with former Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The pair are now looking to use their vast experience to help the club up the Western Conference standings.
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