“The memory that I have chosen is the phone call that I got when I was in bed in Japan saying that Leo Messi was signing for Inter Miami,” remarked David Beckham last year during his appearance on the This Life of Mine… with James Cordon show. For a global fashion and soccer icon who has enjoyed countless treasured moments, calling Messi’s signing his “best recollection” says it all — a testament to the Argentinian superstar’s seismic impact on MLS. Yet, that legacy may now be under threat from one name: Son Heung-min.

The past few weeks have been quite a rollercoaster for LAFC fans — from this very name being linked in a superficial way to the actual signing, and then his debut this weekend against FC Cincinnati, leaving everyone buzzing. But who would have thought that a mere half-hour appearance could ignite a debate in the soccer community that might potentially challenge the popularity of Lionel Messi?

For context, it all began from a very controversial and unique perspective shared by an MLS-based fan page on X, @MlsMoves. Interestingly, the tweet read, “I’m starting to think Son might gain MLS more fans than Messi.” Though it may end up giving the impression that this page is calling the South Korean international better than La Pulga, it quickly added another follow-up tweet saying, “No, Son isn’t better than Messi. I just think the Korean fans are more likely to sign up for Apple TV to watch him than most Messi fans. We shall see.”

Not even a week has passed since Son Heung-min set foot in the United States, and the former Tottenham Hotspur forward is already showing signs of challenging the 8x Ballon d’Or legacy that has been built in the MLS over the past couple of years. No wonder this has stirred up havoc among ardent fans online, who couldn’t hold back from sharing their opinions and fueling the conversation.

Alleged Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min rivalry ignites a passionate debate

Who saw it coming? Honestly, we didn’t. But then again, there were signs this day would arrive. Let’s start with the moment Son Heung-min officially became an LAFC player. The MLS side paid a whopping $26.5 million to the North London-based Premier League club to secure the 33-year-old’s signature.

Now, how much did Inter Miami pay for Lionel Messi? Zero. But of course, one can’t ignore the massive salary the 37-year-old earns in Fort Lauderdale. Still, even if the former Barcelona icon was overshadowed by Son in terms of becoming the most expensive MLS arrival, some fans argue he has no place in this debate. One particularly vocal supporter slammed the comparison, saying, “That’s just delusional.”

No disrespect to Son, but similar calls echoed among other Messi supporters, recalling the kind of transition the MLS has witnessed within the arrival of the former PSG superstar. From sold-out stadiums, record jersey sales, or a massive surge of the domestic game in the States, Leo is responsible for literally igniting a soccer festival in this country:

“No chance. Messi isn’t just a footballer, he’s a global phenomenon. The kind of icon who transcends sport entirely. Son’s a fantastic player and a massive star in his own right, but we’re talking about the guy who’s been the face of world football for nearly two decades.”

Well, it’s not like Son Heung-min’s arrival will only benefit LAFC on the pitch; the former SV Hamburg star is poised to deliver major commercial gains for the California-based club, backed by his massive fan base in South Korea and across Asia. Notably, Los Angeles hosts the largest Korean community in the U.S.—about 320,000 people—surpassing even New York and Washington, D.C., per the Pew Research Center. And while a netizen could not agree with what MLS Moves had to say, they did recognize the opportunity that LAFC have in front of them

“No, but this is a great opportunity to grow their Korean fan base given Son is their biggest star by far. LAFC has a gold mine on their hands and the transfer fee will be more than justified. Great business,” they wote.

Whether his popularity would surpass Messi’s is something that remains in question. “I think a larger % of Son fans will sign up to watch when compared to Messi fans. With that said, Messi has 20-30X more fans than Son. So in total numbers it won’t come close, it’s Messi.”

Shots fired! This fan has made quite a huge claim by raising fingers at Messi’s fanbase while keeping Son’s following on pedestal. “Son has the more loyal fans. That’s the difference,” wrote this netizen. But it surely didn’t take much time for ardent Leo fans to quickly assemble and showcase their passion for the 2022 World Cup winner.

“Are you stupid, brother? You assume Messi fans are broke? Messi even has fans in Korea lmao. Or for what stupid could you even think this?? You have to be farming engagement from Messi haters in MLS lol. Glad I’m not following you,” wrote another, insisting this whole conversation is only to create more hate against the Barcelona icon.

Be that as it may, this is just a glimpse of what you see as hundreds of netizens came to express their views on this matter. Either way, we would like to know your thoughts as well in the comments below!