"Overwhelming Class" Son Heung-min and Messi won completely → Excluding the best 11 in MLS... It's not even on the shortlist [Official]

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Heung-min (34, Los Angeles FC), who showed overwhelming performance in his showdown with Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), was excluded from the team list of Lee Ju-yi of the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS).

On the 24th (Korea time), the MLS Secretariat announced the list of Team of the Best 11 Matchday, which was the best performance in Matchday 1, the opening round of the 2026 season, on its official website.

It's a bit of a disappointment. Despite LAFC's 3-0 defeat of defending champion Miami, Son Heung-min's name, who was active on the front line, could not be found in the starting lineup or the candidate list.

Son Heung-min led his team's victory by playing on the ground for 88 minutes in the opening match against Miami at the LA Memorial Coliseum on the 22nd. He threatened Miami's back space throughout the game, showing a sharp through pass to help Martinez score the first goal in the 38th minute of the first half.

It was a near-perfect performance. According to the statistical media 'Foot Mob', Son Heung-min scored 8.2 points with one assist, recording three key passes, three big opportunities, and a 100% dribbling success rate.

Even the performance on this day was more than Messi. Son Heung-min was recognized for his strong performance with an eight-point rating in multiple media, but Messi fell into a slump, with only six points.

In the absence of Son Heung-min, Dennis Vuanga, who scored one goal and one assist, and Stephen Eustachio, who helped, were named side by side in the midfield. In addition, Marc dos Santos, who led LAFC to a great victory in its league debut, was selected as Lee Ju's manager.

Petar Musa (Dallas), who scored multiple goals against Toronto FC, 17-year-old Shin Seong-Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), who scored two goals in Orlando City's away game, and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), who led the way in beating the New England Revolution 4-1. The midfielders were formed by Adri Mehmeti (New York) and Guillermi (Houston) along with Buanga and Eustachio. Daniel Munier (San Jose), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), and Christopher McVay (San Diego) were selected for the defense, and Christian Kalina (Shalot), who recorded 10 saves, took the position of goalkeeper.

In the past, Son Heung-min met Messi in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-2019 season and scored one assist, but was overshadowed by Messi's two goals. In this U.S. stage reunion, he won a perfect decision against Messi, but was not included in the secretariat's best 11 choices, swallowing regret.

Meanwhile, Son Heung-min and Messi's first face-off in MLS history showed explosive reactions there. 7,5673 all-time spectators gathered at the stadium to watch the match between Son Heung-min and Messi.

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*This content was translated by AI.