A player like this was left out of the World Cup squad... Son Heung-min tops MLS market value rankings, surpassing Messi

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) has been analyzed as having the highest market value among all Major League Soccer (MLS) players in 2026.

According to the 2026 MLS player market value rankings released by football consulting firm Football Benchmark on the 3rd (Korea time), Son Heung-min ranked first overall among MLS players with a market value of 17.1 million euros (approximately 30 billion won).

While his market value has dropped compared to the transfer fee of 22 million euros (approximately 38.6 billion won) when he moved from Tottenham last year, he firmly holds the top spot in MLS player market value rankings.

Following Son Heung-min, Joshua Sargent (26, Toronto FC), a U.S. national, ranked second with 16.1 million euros (approximately 28.3 billion won). Evander (28, FC Cincinnati), a Brazilian national, came in third with 14.6 million euros (approximately 25.6 billion won). Argentina national team players Rodrigo de Paul (32) and Lionel Messi (39, both of Inter Miami) followed with 14.1 million euros (approximately 24.8 billion won) and 13.9 million euros (approximately 24.4 billion won), respectively.

At LAFC, Son Heung-min's attacking partner Denis Bouanga (32) ranked 10th with a market value of 9.8 million euros (approximately 17.2 billion won). Inter Miami had the most players in the top 10 with three, while LAFC and Cincinnati each had two. Only nine players across all of MLS have a market value exceeding 10 million euros (approximately 17.6 billion won).

Football Benchmark, which analyzed this data alongside World Football Summit, noted the trend of an increasing number of players joining MLS during their prime rather than at the end of their careers. While MLS had a strong image as a destination primarily for veteran players, it is now shedding that perception.

Football Benchmark highlighted, "This phenomenon is also evident in the World Cup. With 44 participants in the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF Nations League, MLS has become the league producing the seventh-highest number of players, following Europe's top five leagues and the Saudi Pro League."

Meanwhile, Son Heung-min was substituted after starting in the first two matches of the CONCACAF Nations League group stage against Czech Republic and Mexico last month in Mexico. In the final third match against South Africa, he was left out of the starting lineup and entered as a substitute in the second half. This marked the first time since his debut that Son Heung-min was excluded from the World Cup starting lineup.

Son Heung-min's exclusion from the starting lineup in this crucial match determining advancement to the Round of 32 sparked significant controversy both domestically and internationally. Ultimately, Hong Myung-bo's team lost 0-1 to South Africa, finished third in the group, and was eliminated.

After the match, ESPN criticized, "Coach Hong Myung-bo's shocking gamble to leave out Son Heung-min backfired spectacularly." Coach Hong explained, "Considering Son Heung-min's physical burden from primarily sprinting in the first two matches to disrupt opponents' defensive spaces and the hot weather, we intended to bring him on later."

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*This content was translated by AI.