Son Heung-Min, the $26 million man for Los Angeles FC, finally broke his goal drought in spectacular fashion on Friday night, scoring the opening goal in LAFC's 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy in the latest edition of El Tráfico. The goal was Son's first since last season, ending a stretch of 237 days without a goal across all competitions.
The South Korean international, who joined LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2024, had endured a frustrating start to the 2025 MLS campaign. After scoring nine goals in his first 10 regular-season appearances for LAFC, the 34-year-old went goalless in 13 consecutive matches this season, registering only nine assists while taking 44 shots without a single goal. The drought extended to his national team performances, where he failed to score in South Korea's short World Cup campaign.
A World Cup to Forget
South Korea entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites to advance from Group A, with Son leading a golden generation that included players like Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in. The Taegeuk Warriors opened with a promising 2-1 victory over Czechia, but then suffered back-to-back 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa, failing to qualify for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
The disappointment was immense in South Korea, where the national team's early exit sparked widespread criticism. President Yoon Suk-yeol demanded an investigation into the team's performance, and Son took to Instagram to express his remorse: "I don't dare to convey the disappointment and hurt of the fans with a single word 'sorry.' So even saying those words feels insufficient."
The Move to LAFC and Early Success
Son's arrival in Major League Soccer was historic. The first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot (2021–22), he came to LAFC as a global icon. The transfer fee of $26 million was the largest incoming fee in MLS history, and the South Korean diaspora in Los Angeles—numbering approximately 250,000—welcomed him with open arms.
His introductory press conference featured Mayor Karen Bass, and the Dodgers invited him to throw out the first pitch on Shohei Ohtani's bobblehead night. Son's first LAFC goal—a free kick over the wall in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas—was named MLS Goal of the Year. He finished his partial 2024 season with nine goals in 10 appearances, raising expectations for 2025.
But the goals dried up after that initial burst. Defenses adjusted, and Son struggled to find rhythm. Before Friday, his last goal for LAFC came on October 20, 2024, against the Colorado Rapids. Since then, he had gone 44 shots without scoring.
The Breakthrough in El Tráfico
In the 57th minute of Friday's match, Son received a pass from Mark Delgado outside the box, took a touch, and unleashed a right-footed shot that sailed between two Galaxy defenders and past goalkeeper Novak Micovic. The goal broke the deadlock, and Son celebrated by putting his finger to his lips in a "shhh" gesture before miming his signature camera celebration.
"He deserves it, coming back from an emotional World Cup, and joining us right away," LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said. "The first goal of this season, I think it will help him. Definitely, going forward through the second part of the season."
Confidence Builder
Teammates erupted in joy. Mathieu Choinière pumped his fists, Jacob Shaffelburg and Ryan Hollingshead flanked Son for a mock family photo, and Dos Santos unleashed a vein-popping flex on the sideline. The goal ended a personal drought and also gave LAFC a crucial lead in a heated rivalry match. Denis Bouanga converted a penalty later to make it 2-0, and another goal sealed the 3-0 win.
"He's been in a bit of a goal drought, and we all want him to score," Delgado said. "He's always smiling, always scoring in training. And we're like, 'yeah, we need that, we need that!' Trying to give him confidence. And in games, he finally is getting that confidence back. So to see him score and put the ball in the net and just see his face light up with a smile is awesome."
What This Means for LAFC
LAFC currently sits third in the Western Conference with an 8-5-3 record. While the Galaxy are still a work in progress, LAFC will face tougher opponents soon, including Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. The team will need Son's goals to maintain their playoff push.
Son's career in England was stellar: 173 goals across all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur, including 107 in the Premier League. He formed a lethal partnership with Harry Kane and won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021–22. His move to MLS was seen as a chance for a fresh start and to grow the sport in the United States.
Now, with one goal under his belt, Son hopes the floodgates will open. "Scoring the first goal of this season, I think it will help me. Let's keep going, and hope Wednesday I can score another goal."
The narrative of disappointment and redemption is one that resonates across sports. Son's journey from World Cup heartbreak to re-finding his scoring touch in a rivalry match is a testament to his resilience. For LAFC fans, the Son who left Tottenham is back—and that bodes well for the remainder of the season.
Source: MSN News