Less than two weeks after joining LAFC, Korean superstar Son Heung-min immediately created a global fever when his jersey "sold out" around the world.
Sonny's shirt sales even surpassed global sports symbols such as Lionel Messi, LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
This shows the great appeal and influence of this player in the US market. This is also a clear testament to the enthusiasm that fans have had for Son Heung-min since his first days in MLS.
This statistic was revealed by LAFC club co-chairman and CEO John thorrington based on real-time sales data since Sonny officially joined the team.
"This is the second consecutive week that we have not only talked about the best-selling football shirt in MLS, but also the shirt of any athlete in the world. Since Son Heung-min signed the contract, no one has sold more shirts than him" - thorrington said.
Son Heung-min's appeal did not stop at his record in shirt sales, but also created a "storm" in the ticket market. According to the Korea Times, LAFC's match ticket prices have increased sharply since he joined.
Specifically, ticket prices for the LAFC vs San Diego FC match on September 1 increased dramatically, from about 300 USD to 1,500 USD, reflecting the excitement of fans when they wanted to see Son Heung-min play in the US.
At the age of 32, Son Heung-min is opening a new chapter in his career. The Korean star - who won the Best Player award in Asia 7 times - is the target of many "big guys" such as Real Madrid or Man City. However, his love for Tottenham led him to reject attractive offers before deciding to move to MLS.
Son Heung-min has been the number one face in Asian football for many years, winning the Golden Boot, the puskas and winning the Europa League as Tottenham captain. His presence has made "The Rooster" the most popular club in Korea, while spreading its appeal throughout Asia.
MLS has not been getting much attention in Asia, but Sonny can change that. According to Korean media, fans of the country were initially divided when some wanted him to stay in Europe for another season.
However, after understanding why he chose LAFC and MLS, most fans approved. Especially when competing in the US will be favorable for the 2026 World Cup campaign.
The US is currently South Korea's leading trading partner, accounting for nearly 20% of total export turnover in 2024, compared to only 1% for the UK. This is also a key market for key product lines such as cosmetics, electronics, cars and phones in this country.
Therefore, Son Heung-min brings a platform and opportunity for LAFC to connect more deeply, not only with fans but also with big brands such as Samsung or Kia.
Even Chinese media quickly reported, comparing Son Heung-min's commercial appeal to Messi. The media in this country predicts that Sonny will quickly win the hearts of fans in the US, especially in the city of Los Angeles.
