If you’ve followed Storylines, you know we’re not above admiring a standout player, no matter who they play for. Whether it’s last week’s edition looking at SKC’s André Luiz, one of the more niche profiles on Billy Sharp, or something closer to home about Wil Trapp, it’s always fun to take a look at some of the stories behind the players who make our league so exciting. And, when it comes to LAFC, the list is pretty dang star-studded.
From Carlos Vela to Hugo Lloris, or even Olivier Giroud’s brief stint in Tinseltown, they’ve had World Cup winners, serial record-breakers, and next-level talents wear their colors, and this season is no exception to that rule. Sure, MLS fans are already plenty familiar with the likes of Denis Bouanga, scorer of 83 MLS goals in just 131 games, and while he warrants an article of his own, I’ve grown bored of him, to be perfectly honest. I mean, we get it, you’re really freaking fast and great at finishing. Quit showing off, especially when you’re playing against us, okay?
No, instead, we’ll be talking about a real international superstar today. He’s almost certainly the greatest player to ever come out of South Korea, and from what I can tell, one of the nicest human beings on the planet. Son Heung-Min, Son, Sonny — whatever you call him, he’s the very definition of a gem, and he’s been one of the world’s most exciting icons over the last decade of soccer history, and you simply need to know his story to appreciate what your Loons are coming up against this weekend.
The Legend Himself
It all began back in South Korea, when a young Son Heung-Min began playing at school before joining FC Seoul’s academy setup in 2008. He made a name for himself quite quickly, making the move to Europe at the tender age of 16 to join German side Hamburger SV’s youth squad. He made waves with his above average speed and technical ability, demonstrating a nose for goal and an attacking instinct that can’t be taught.
His impressive skillset was undeniable, and earned him a professional debut for Hamburger SV at just 18 years of age in 2010. He’d go on to score 20 goals in 73 games for Die Rothosen across the next three years, and other clubs took notice. In 2013, German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen pulled the trigger on the young phenom, giving Son a chance to follow in the footsteps of countryman Cha Bum-kun, who famously played over 100 games and scored 52 goals for the German outfit.
While Son didn’t stay long enough to hit the same numbers, his 21 goals in 62 games once again put him in the shop window for bigger and better opportunities, and when Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur came calling in 2015, he took a step that would define his career.
Son’s move to North London came with optimism, but no one could have predicted just how well he would do. His time with Spurs saw him create one of the world’s most dynamic attacking partnerships alongside current Ballon d’Or holder Harry Kane, and saw him become the highest-scoring Asian soccer player in Premier League history (127 goals in 333 games). He stuck around long enough to end Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought, bringing home the Europa League trophy in 2025 just before making the move to the third continent of his career.
All along the way, Son was rewriting history with the South Korea national team. From 2014 to 2026, he led his team in four World Cups, racking up an incredible 59 goals in 151 appearances to become his nation’s leading scorer and appearance-maker. He’s synonymous with South Korean soccer at this point, and it’s well-deserved.
Miss a Beat? Never.
No matter where he lands, this guy is just pure class. Since joining MLS, he’s notched 16 goals and 18 assists in 39 games, with seven of those goals and a league-leading 15 of those assists coming in 2026 alone. He’s LAFC’s most effective playmaker, leading the club with 60 key passes and 42 fouls drawn from open play, and he’s logged an impressive 2,370 minutes as a 34 year old. He’s not showing any signs of slowing down, and he’s aging like fine wine.
But no one can play forever.
A whole generation of soccer fans have been watching Sonny ball out on the biggest stages in the world for years, and it’s not a stretch or exaggeration to say he’s among the most influential players of the 21st century. Sure, Messi has the Ballon d’Or’s and may very well be the greatest player of all time, but Son Heung-Min is one of the sport’s all-time greatest talents in his own right, and our league is lucky to have him for as long as he wants to stick around and show us what’s what. I know we’re in the middle of a playoff push and it’s late-season squeaky bum time, but please take a moment during this weekend’s match to home in on this superstar — he’ll probably give you more than a few highlights to watch anyway.
