33 years old, 26 million yuan! Son Heung-min broke the ceiling of North American football with one sign!

When Los Angeles FC paid $26 million in transfer fees for 33-year-old Son Heung-min, this figure not only set a new record in the MEF history, but also looked like a deep-water bomb that was put into the North American football market. You know, the previous record holder Atlanta United signed Lat Lass only $22 million.

The US League has continued to increase its "superstar policy" in recent years. From Beckham to Ibrahimovic, to Messi Suarez, and now Son Heung-min, its logic is clear: to open up the North American market with the appeal of top players. Son Heung-min contributed 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 games at Tottenham. The data is gorgeous, but looking at its trajectory closely, it hides the ultimate confusion of professional players: When speed and explosive power decline with age, how can we continue our top competitiveness? In the 2021-2022 season, Son Heung-min shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Salah with 23 goals, which was the peak of his career. But in the following two seasons, his league goals fell to 11 goals and 10 goals respectively. Although tactical adjustments have caused data fluctuations, the age of 33 is always an obstacle that cannot be avoided.

More importantly, Son Heung-min's role in Tottenham has gradually changed from "explosive point" to "system puzzle" - he needs more running without the ball and team cooperation, rather than solving problems by relying solely on personal abilities. This transformation is precisely an important reason why he chose the American League: in a relatively slow league, he can use his experience to make up for the decline in physical functions and at the same time reserve physical fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Los Angeles FC plays smartly: signing Son Heung-min can not only improve the team's strength, but also quickly open up the Asian market. Data shows that the Asian audience of the MAF has reached 15%, while Son Heung-min's personal social media fans account for 40% and Southeast Asia account for 30%. This transfer is essentially a precise business investment.

Sun Heung-min's $26 million transfer is a declaration of expansion for the US League, a symbol of breakthrough for Asian football, and a precise plan of his career for Son Heung-min himself. When we are cheering for "Asia's No. 1", we should think more about how we should cultivate stars like Son Heung-min?