Move over Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal: Son Heung-min topples soccer royalty’s record just days into LAFC career

Son Heung-Min’s move to LAFC hasn’t just sparked excitement among soccer fans; it’s created a frenzy that has gripped the entire sports scene.

The city of Los Angeles is buzzing like never before. Son Heung-Min’s move to LAFC hasn’t just sparked excitement among soccer fans; it’s created a frenzy that has gripped the entire sports scene. The South Korean superstar’s transfer is already being compared to the seismic arrivals of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and even the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

Just days after officially joining LAFC, Son managed to break a record previously linked with these global icons — a feat so staggering that it’s left fans, pundits, and retailers scrambling to keep up. When did Son Heung-Min break it? And what exactly was this record? That’s the mystery that has fueled an even greater media storm.

When the former Premier League star signed with the Black and Gold on August 7, the club’s official stores were swamped. Fans queued for hours to grab his home jersey, priced at $194.99 pre-personalized, while others opted to customize blank kits for an extra $37. By August 11, LAFC’s online shop had sold out of nearly every size except the largest.

What’s more, ticket demand spiked alongside jersey sales. On SeatGeek, prime seats for the team’s September 1 clash with San Diego FC reached $1,500 — more than five times the usual rate. Regular $30-$50 seats climbed as well, mirroring the ticket inflation that followed Messi’s MLS debut.

The record that shook sports

From the moment Son’s signing was announced, the demand for his iconic black-and-gold No. 7 LAFC jersey went into overdrive. According to the club co-president and general manager, John Thorrington, the veteran has sold more jerseys than any other athlete in the world since his signing — not just in soccer, but in all sports.

“It is the highest-selling jersey of any sport in the world right now,” Thorrington told talkSPORT. “From the day he signed until now, Son has sold more jerseys than any athlete anywhere.”

This means Son has outpaced Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, as well as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and every other global superstar during this period. In fact, American outlet Front Office Sports confirmed his debut-period MLS jersey sales rank second in history — behind only Messi’s first month — and with Los Angeles’ vast Asian population, Son could soon surpass even that.