"Son, No Longer a Fatal Winger": Foreign Media Shock Report, Real Meaning Was Different... "From Fake No. 9 to Soccer Sage"

*This content was translated by AI.

Amid concerns over Son Heung-min's (34, LAFC) goal drought, local assessments suggest he has instead evolved into a "soccer sage."

On the 23rd (Korea time), Argentina's "Olé" reported, "Son Heung-min has not scored in the regular season this year, but is leading the league in assists and playing a vital role as LAFC's core attacking brain."

The outlet analyzed, "Son Heung-min is no longer a lethal winger who breaks defensive lines to score. Under coach Marc Dos Santos, he has shifted his role to that of a 'false 9' or an attacking midfielder." This means he is focusing on build-up play to maximize the destructive power of attacking partners like Denis Bouanga, rather than seeking goals himself.

It continued, "The records prove his successful transformation. Son Heung-min has not scored in the first nine games of the regular season but has recorded seven assists, placing him alone at the top of the category. Notably, in the match against Orlando City (6-0 victory), he exploded with four assists in the first half, tying Lionel Messi's MLS record. Even without scoring, he was directly involved in five goals that day."

Coach Dos Santos is showing firm trust in Son Heung-min. He stated, "Son Heung-min does not need to score in every game. He must make the entire team move organically, and he is performing that role more perfectly than anyone else."

The media added, "However, this does not mean Son Heung-min has lost his actual goal-scoring instinct. In the CONCACAF Champions Cup, he scored two goals and provided four assists, leading his team to the semifinals."

It then evaluated Son Heung-min's change as a positive "evolution" for both his club and the South Korean national team. The outlet noted, "LAFC is firmly holding its position in the upper tier of the Western Conference," and added, "Son Heung-min, now 33, is managing his stamina and focusing on reading the flow of the game, allowing him to prepare effectively for the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup."

It further praised, "In modern soccer, the player who scores the most goals is not always the best. Son Heung-min is currently dominating games with the final pass rather than goals, which holds immense value just as much as scoring."

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*This content was translated by AI.