Son Heung-min has proven he remains one of the world's most elite creators after a historic performance for LAFC that saw him match a record previously set by Lionel Messi. The South Korean international dismantled Orlando City in a 6-0 rout, cementing his status as the premier playmaker in Major League Soccer.
The Apple TV analyst caught up with GOAL to talk about why Lionel Messi's Inter Miami have been inconsistent, and speculated how a potential Robert Lewandowski arrival could change MLS.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami came into the 2026 season with a ton of new shiny toys, but it was a familiar LAFC who dominated in their season opener - crushing the Herons in a 3-0 rout in front of an MLS-record opening day crowd of 75,673 at LA Memorial Coliseum. Denis Bouanga sparked an impressive performance for the Black and Gold, with an impressive goal and assist in the second half.
GOAL spoke to GMs and chief soccer officers across MLS about the league’s 3.0 vision: the calendar change is progress, but executives say the next steps must come faster.
Son Heung-min produced a stunning display for LAFC in a 6-1 thrashing of Real Espana in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The former Tottenham star scored and bagged three assists inside the first 45 minutes of the clash at the General Francisco Morazán Stadium in Honduras. Denis Bouanga also caught the eye with a hat-trick in an emphatic win for the MLS side.
In an exclusive interview with GOAL, Marc Dos Santos explains why LAFC chose continuity - and how Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga will be used differently in 2026.
MLS returns with a packed schedule and familiar chaos. From stars like Messi, Rodriguez, and Son Heung-Min to the teams you can avoid, here’s who’s actually worth your weekend watch.
From Christian Pulisic’s individual success to the USMNT exiting the World Cup earlier than hoped, GOAL outlines its predictions for American soccer in 2026.
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