"Son Heung-min, who is like a beast, can't even score a goal? People who don't even know soccer..." Angrily rave reviews, LAFC director 'surprise remarks' Why?

*This content was translated by AI.

Coach Mark dos Santos praised Son Heung-min (34, LAFC). Son Heung-min, who had four assists in the first half of the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) game alone, performed a special performance that matched Lionel Messi's (Inter Miami) milestone.

LAFC defeated Orlando City 6-0 in the sixth round of 2026 MLS at BMO Stadium in LA, California on the 5th (Korea Standard Time).

Son Heung-min was the star of the day. Starting with a sharp cross in the 7th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min drove four assists between the 20th and 40th minutes of the first half, playing a one-man show in which he was involved in all five first-half goals recorded by his team.

According to a video released by LAFC, coach dos Santos said at a press conference after the game, "The best player in today's game was Son Heung-min."

"Son Heung-min not only scored four assists, but actually scored 4.5 assists, including his first own goal," coach Dos Santos said. "Son Heung-min pressured the opponent with tremendous intensity from the beginning of the game and was involved in all the team's goals." Son Heung-min's performance in the first half was truly like a beast," he said.

With four assists in just one game, Son has emerged as the lone lead in the Help King category with seven assists in MLS this season (2nd place and two differences).

In particular, it is the first time in MLS history that Son Heung-min recorded four assists in the first half alone. Messi and Son Heung-min, who had five assists in late May 2024, are the only two players who recorded more than four assists in 45 minutes throughout the first and second half. In response, coach dos Santos said, "I didn't know that Son Heung-min tied Messi's record. However, considering Son Heung-min's ability at the training ground, he replied, "It's not surprising at all."

Even coach Dos Santos said, "You only see Son in the game. "But I see Son every day at the training ground," he said. "Every time I see Son's pass, I am impressed. There is a creative pass that pokes the pass into a space where it seems like it can't go out. "The only thing I showed in this game is to move my daily life on the training ground to the stadium," he explained.

Coach Dos Santos then joked, "Messi is a player who does everything, but I also have to save my words because I am Portuguese," expressing pride in Son Heung-min's record being compared to Messi.

The coach also refuted some of the views pointing out Son Heung-min's recent scoring drought. Coach Dos Santos said, "It's more like a delusion that Son Heung-min doesn't know the league and football at all to think that he should score every game," adding, "Son Heung-min is helping the team not only by scoring, but also by dedicated pressure and selfless play." I have full confidence in him."

In fact, Son Heung-min added four assists on the day, continuing his phenomenal offensive point streak of one goal and 11 assists in 10 MLS games this season. Football statistics media "Pot Mob" selected Son Heung-min as the most valuable player of the game, giving him 9.8 points, which is higher than Dennis Buanga, who scored a hat trick.

Coach dos Santos, who confirmed his best condition, arranged his physical strength by replacing Son Heung-min in the 12th minute of the second half in preparation for the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Cruz Asul (Mexico) on the 8th. "Son Heung-min is such a responsible player that he wants to play as soon as he returns from London," coach Dos Santos said. "Son Heung-min's physical condition is perfect. He also gave his team members great trust, saying, "I'm the best colleague."

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*This content was translated by AI.