Lionel Messi’s impact: Son Heung-min credits Inter Miami star for MLS move from Premier League
This summer, Major League Soccer welcomed three superstars from Europe: Rodrigo De Paul, Thomas Muller, and Son Heung-min. The latter left the Premier League after a decade with Tottenham Hotspur and signed with Los Angeles FC. Asked about the decision, the South Korean forward credited Lionel Messi’s influence.
After arriving in Los Angeles, Son gave an interview to ESPN, where he was asked about the ‘Messi effect’ and how it has helped shift global perceptions of MLS over the past two years. “I mean, he’s huge. We are very lucky to watching Lionel Messi playing football,” the forward began.
“Same generation watching him playing and scoring so many goals. Joining MLS, I think he will affect so many players,” Heung-min continued, before acknowledging Messi’s personal impact on him. “It also affects me what he’s done for his club and for his country. He also changed my mind.”
Son’s words reflect what the Argentine forward has meant for soccer in the United States since his arrival in 2023. Inter Miami is the clearest example of that: they went from being the worst team in the Eastern Conference to one of the most competitive in the league, even reaching the knock-out stages of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
While other elite players had joined MLS before Messi—such as David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, and Kaka—never before had so many stars arrived from Europe at the same time. In addition to the league’s new signings this summer are long-standing players like Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Hugo Lloris, and Hirving Lozano.
How did Son do against Messi?
In their professional careers, Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min have faced each other only twice. It was during the group stage of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, when they played for Barcelona and Tottenham, respectively. On that occasion, Leo had the edge: a 4–2 win in London, with two goals from the Argentine forward, followed by a 1–1 draw in Spain.
When will Messi and Son face off again?
Now as MLS rivals, the matchup between Messi and Son could be renewed. However, it won’t happen anytime soon. In the 2025 regular season, Inter Miami and LAFC have already played their matches: a 1–0 win for the California team and a 3–1 victory for the Herons, both in April. They also met in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, with Inter Miami winning 3–2 on aggregate.
In the Leagues Cup, LAFC were eliminated in the early stage, so they can no longer face the Herons in that competition. With this scenario, the only remaining chance for Messi and Son to play each other this year would be in a potential MLS final. For that to happen, Inter Miami would need to win the Eastern Conference playoffs, and LAFC would have to do the same in the West.