Son Heung-min's Jersey Sales Rank 2nd Ahead of MLS Debut - "Messi-Level Popularity"

Korean football legend Son Heung-min is already generating massive buzz ahead of his MLS debut on August 10. The LA FC signing is set to travel with the team for their away match against Chicago, and his jersey sales have reached 2nd place in MLS history, proving his Messi-level popularity.

According to MLS officials, Son Heung-min's jersey sales are comparable to the levels seen during Lionel Messi's transfer to Inter Miami. This surpasses the records set during Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham's MLS debuts, demonstrating Son Heung-min's global influence.

Son Heung-min's entry into MLS is being evaluated as setting a new milestone in Asian football history. Having left Tottenham after 12 years to take on a new challenge, Son Heung-min stated his determination: "I will show new football in MLS."

Tottenham: "The Void Without Son Heung-min is Significant"

Meanwhile, Tottenham, who let Son Heung-min go, is already feeling his absence. Manager Frank acknowledged after a 0-4 defeat to Bayern Munich in a friendly match that "the void left by Captain Son Heung-min's departure is considerable."

Son Heung-min established himself as a club legend at Tottenham, scoring 164 goals in 416 appearances over 12 seasons. He notably became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season.

Tottenham fans are expressing regret over Son Heung-min's transfer news while also sending supportive messages for his new challenge. One fan said, "I hope Captain Son, who was Tottenham's hope for 12 years, will also succeed in MLS."

Korean Football Seeks New Breakthrough Amid EPL Vacancy Crisis

Son Heung-min's MLS transfer is not unrelated to the difficult situation Korean football is experiencing in the EPL. Currently, despite EPL broadcasting rights costing 70 billion won, there's a high possibility of having no Korean players in the league.

With Hwang Hee-chan on the summer transfer list and questions about Paik Seung-ho's team joining possibilities being raised, Korean players' EPL presence is generally declining. In this situation, Son Heung-min's MLS challenge holds significant meaning in presenting new opportunities for Korean football.

Football experts analyze that "Son Heung-min's MLS entry will greatly increase interest in Korean football in the North American region, which will soon open doors of new opportunities for young Korean players."

Meanwhile, in K League, Ulsan Hyundai secured their first victory in 12 matches under manager Shin Tae-yong's system, laying the foundation for a comeback. In professional baseball, LG defeated Hanwha 8-1, recording their 17th win in the second half, and Lee Jung-hoo maintained a .375 batting average in August with seven consecutive games with hits.

In table tennis, Ahn Jae-hyeon advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating world-ranking 6th Lebrun at the WTT Yokohama tournament, demonstrating Korean table tennis prowess.

Son Heung-min's MLS debut is evaluated as a symbolic event that presents new possibilities for Korean sports as a whole, beyond just individual transfer. His performance is expected to attract attention from MLS as well as football fans worldwide.

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