Son Heung-Min

The San Jose Earthquakes defeated LAFC 4-1, but before the match, the two former Tottenham teammates shared a warm reunion. Leer

Breaking the record previously set against LAFC, Lionel Messi has set another MLS attendance record in the game between Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami. Lionel Messi was once again the center of attention on Saturday, both for his performance on the pitch and for drawing tens of thousands of fans to yet another away game, just as he did on Matchday 1 against LAFC. This time, the Inter Miami star helped set a new away attendance record in MLS history at Empower Field at Mile High against the Colorado Rapids. To celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, the Colorado Rapids relocated their home match against Inter Miami from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to Empower Field at Mile High, the home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos and the Rapids’ former home ground. In a 3-2 result that featured a Messi brace, the Herons secured all three points, but the occasion was equally notable as another landmark moment in the league’s ongoing growth. A record crowd was anticipated well ahead of kickoff, and the fans delivered, with 75,824 spectators filling Empower Field at Mile High to watch the Rapids take on Inter Miami. The figure stands as the largest attendance ever recorded at a Colorado Rapids home match and vaulted the game to second place on the all-time list of highest single-game attendances in MLS history. In a notable subplot, the crowd also surpassed the record set earlier this season when LAFC relocated their home match against Inter Miami to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That Son Heung-min vs. Lionel Messi showdown drew 75,673 fans, a mark that has now been bumped to third on the all-time list. Colorado soccer history made‼️ pic.twitter.com/btswFAmsAQ — Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) April 18, 2026 The figure also came remarkably close to the all-time attendance record at Empower Field at Mile High across all sports. That benchmark belongs to an NFL game between the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers on October 29, 2007, when the Packers claimed a 19-13 victory in front of 77,160 fans, just over 1,300 more than the crowd that packed the stadium last weekend. Messi drawing fans beyond traditional soccer venues Empower Field at Mile High is the latest in a growing list of non-soccer venues that have hosted Inter Miami specifically to accommodate the surge in demand surrounding Messi. Several MLS clubs have already made stadium moves this season to maximize their opportunity to host the Argentine superstar. Beyond Colorado and LAFC, D.C. United and New York City FC have also relocated their home matches against Inter Miami to larger venues. The Black-and-Red moved their game to M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, drawing a crowd of 72,026, while New York City shifted their match to Yankee Stadium, which attracted 45,845 fans. Top 5 highest single-game attendances in MLS history According to MLS, the five largest crowds in the league’s history are as follows: LA Galaxy vs. LAFC (July, 2023) — 82,110 fans Colorado Rapids vs. Inter Miami (April, 2026) — 75,824 fans LAFC vs. Inter Miami (February, 2026) — 75,673 fans Charlotte FC vs. LA Galaxy (March, 2022) — 74,479 fans Atlanta United vs. Portland Timbers (December, 2018) — 73,019 fans

After the game, the South Korean player enjoyed the local street food Leer

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard give their thoughts on Son Heung-min starting the season scoreless through seven games. @Walmart Unfiltered Soccer 👉 https://unfilteredsoccer.com/ Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredsoccer/ Twitter/X 👉 https://twitter.com/unfilteredsoccr TikTok 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@unfilteredsoccer Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/UnfilteredSoccer/ OTHER PODCASTS YOU MAY LIKE Triple Option - http://tripleoptionshow.com Throwbacks - http://ThrowbacksShow.com Post Moves - http://PostMovesShow.com Cousins - http://vinceandtmac.com

Agyemang’s pain may be someone else’s gain. On Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, we're sharing our thoughts on the unfortunate news of Patrick Agyemang’s season ending Achilles injury and how it could potentially impact the USMNT’s roster for the World Cup. Will strikers like Josh Sargent or Brian White get a look? Could a wildcard like Zavier Gozo break through? Is Diego Luna’s spot now set in stone? Tim and Landon break it all down. Plus, we may be less than 10 matches into MLS’ season, but that’s not too soon for Montreal to make a move at coach. Was Marco Donadel really the problem or do the club’s issues run deeper than that? And what’s to be made of Son Heung-min's quiet goalscoring season? While some may be scratching their heads, Landon explains why it’s a whole lot of nothing! Finally, in the AT&T Mailbag, we're talking Lincoln City’s guaranteed promotion, Tottenham’s potential relegation and the U.S. Men’s “A squad” vs the U.S. Men’s “B squad.” New episodes of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim drop every Tuesday. Subscribe to the show on YouTube and follow on all your favorite podcast platforms. For bonus content, follow on all social media platforms @UnfilteredSoccer. Send your mailbag questions to [email protected] (https://www.unfilteredsoccer.com). Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard is presented by Volkswagen. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4g8bZG3. Thank you to our additional sponsors: AT&T. Connecting Changes Everything. Visit https://att.com/guarantee to learn more. Coca-Cola and Carnival Cruise Line. Hot Takes, Cold Coke, Open Seas – your Carnival cruise is waiting! Visit Carnival.com/unfiltered and stay tuned for more information on how you could win a Carnival cruise! Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to CoorsLight.com/USLNT FanDuel. Secure your chance to score $100 BUCKS in bonus bets today. Download the FanDuel App to check out today's Soccer Daily Specials betting odds. Walmart. Walmart plays on Saturdays. Who knew? Visit walmart.com/MLS This episode of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard was edited and mastered by Collin Kushner, Andrew Hartley and Jeremy Steinkamp, with engineering support from Eric Newell. Our producers are Andrew Gundling and Jordan Rizzieri. Our social media lead is Dan Armelli and our social editors are Kyle Curley and Finley Skelton. YouTube Chapters 00:00 Intro 2:38 Patrick Agyemang's injury 13:28 Balogun stays in form 19:03 Montréal fire head coach 26:43 Red Bulls' youth development 28:46 Vancouver to lose Berhalter? 32:41 Arsenal and Tottenham bottling 41:11 Fan Connection Unfiltered Soccer 👉 https://unfilteredsoccer.com/ Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/unfilteredsoccer/ Twitter/X 👉 https://twitter.com/unfilteredsoccr TikTok 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@unfilteredsoccer Facebook 👉 https://www.facebook.com/UnfilteredSoccer/ OTHER PODCASTS YOU MAY LIKE Triple Option - http://tripleoptionshow.com Throwbacks - http://ThrowbacksShow.com Post Moves - http://PostMovesShow.com Cousins - http://vinceandtmac.com

LAFC will face Cruz Azul on Tuesday in the Concacaf Champions Cup, a matchup that could serve as a valuable test for Son Heung-min ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Son Heung-min will have a useful opportunity ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as he travels to Mexico on Tuesday with LAFC to face Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup, under conditions similar to those he will encounter this summer with South Korea. The clash between Cruz Azul and LAFC will be played at Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla, a city located 7,005 feet above sea level. That makes for unusual match conditions, with differences in climate and oxygen levels that often impact players who are not accustomed to that environment. This will represent an additional challenge for LAFC, considering they drew 0-0 at home in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal series. They will now need to find a goal to gain an advantage and advance to the semifinals, though the task will not be easy. However, for Son, there is also an opportunity to gain experience that could prove crucial ahead of the World Cup set to take place this summer in North America. South Korea are in Group A and will play all three of their group-stage matches on Mexican soil, where altitude will be a key factor to consider. Son playing for LAFC. South Korea’s altitude challenges at the World Cup Of South Korea’s three group-stage matches at the World Cup, one will be played against South Africa at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe. At just 1,600 feet above sea level, altitude should not pose a major issue for Son and his teammates. However, the other two matches will present a very different scenario. Both South Korea’s opener against the Czech Republic and their following match against Mexico will be played at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, where altitude becomes a significant factor at 5,154 feet. The match against the Czech Republic will be relatively even in that regard, as both teams will be dealing with unfamiliar conditions. But the real challenge will come in the second match, when they face the hosts, who are naturally far more accustomed to the environment. That is why Son Heung-min’s prior opportunity to play at altitude — and at an even higher elevation like Puebla — could be invaluable preparation for the World Cup.

With Neymar being linked to FC Cincinnati, questions arise over how much the MLS side would have to invest to bring in the Santos star. Neymar is back in the headlines, with reports surfacing that FC Cincinnati have expressed interest in signing the Brazilian legend. While the news is still in its early stages, questions are emerging about what it would take financially for the MLS club to pry him away from Santos. According to The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio, FC Cincinnati have initiated contact with Neymar’s entourage to explore the possibility of a move. While direct talks with the player himself have yet to take place, negotiations remain at a preliminary stage, with the financial terms of any potential deal yet to be discussed. The same reporters revealed that internal discussions within the Cincinnati organization are still ongoing as the club weighs whether to push forward with a pursuit. The initial inquiries were made to get a first read on what it would take to make the deal happen. The timing of a potential move is seen as opportune given the current circumstances surrounding both Santos and Neymar’s contract situation. His deal with the Peixe runs through December 2026, meaning he could sign a pre-contract agreement with any club as early as June, while Santos have struggled to find their footing near the top of the Brazilian first division, falling well short of expectations since Neymar’s return last year. Neymar Junior of Santos. The potential move fits into a broader MLS strategy of attracting global stars, a push that has already brought Thomas Muller, Son Heung-min and most recently Antoine Griezmann to North America. For FC Cincinnati specifically, the path is complicated by the fact that all three Designated Player slots are currently occupied by Evander, Kevin Denkey and Teenage Hadebe, meaning at least one would need to be moved on to make room for Neymar. Neymar’s reported contract demands at Santos Beyond clearing a DP slot, the financial investment required to land one of the most marketable players in modern soccer history would be substantial. While Cincinnati would not owe Santos a transfer fee given the expiration of his contract, agreeing to terms with Neymar himself is an entirely different mountain to climb. A May 2025 report from UOL Esporte revealed that the deal brokered between Santos and Neymar’s father, who also serves as his agent, guarantees the player a monthly income of R$21 million, roughly $3.8 million, combining salary and image rights. His official labor documents list a gross salary of R$4.14 million, approximately $750,000 USD, but that figure is only the tip of the iceberg. According to the same report, Neymar is entitled to at least $15 million in marketing projects and image rights, one of the key commercial pillars that MLS and FC Cincinnati would be eager to capitalize on. On top of that, Santos is required to pass on 75% of the value of any sponsorships sold through the arrangement, keeping just 25% for the club. Neymar of Santos warming up prior to the game. All of the above, part of his initial six-month deal with Santos, was supplemented by private flights, luxury hotel accommodations for him and his inner circle, and business class travel for the entire NR Sports staff. His current contract, set to expire in December 2026, has not been made public, but FC Cincinnati are unlikely to find Neymar’s financial expectations easy to meet. That said, the commercial upside of landing one of soccer’s biggest names could still make the equation worthwhile for the club.

Son Heung-Min and Dénis Bouanga continue to get all the attention, but 20-year-old David Martínez is enjoying a breakout season at LAFC. The Venezuelan scored two brilliant goals to seal LAFC’s 3-0 win over defending Concacaf Champions Cup champion Cruz Azul in the first leg of their quarterfinal series at BMO Stadium. La Máquina had the early edge in play, […] The post David Martínez steals show in LAFC win over Cruz Azul appeared first on Soccer America.

With his hat-trick against Orlando City, LAFC star Denis Bouanga claimed the fifth MLS Player of the Matchday award in his career, but remains far from legends Lionel Messi and Hani Mukhtar. Denis Bouanga was one of the standout performers of Matchday 6 in the 2026 MLS season, scoring a hat trick in LAFC‘s dominant 6-0 win over Orlando City. The Gabonese striker claimed his fifth career MLS Player of the Matchday award in the process, though he still has plenty of ground to make up on Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar. In Saturday’s rout of Orlando, Son Heung-min turned heads by registering four assists in the first half alone, matching one of Messi’s records in the process, though three of those passes set up Bouanga, who made no mistake in front of goal. MLS opted to award the goalscorer over the South Korean as the match’s standout player. It marked Bouanga’s first Player of the Matchday honor of the 2026 season and the fifth of his MLS career since joining LAFC in 2022. That total places him among the top three active players in the category, trailing only Mukhtar and Messi. Keeping pace with that duo, however, will be no easy feat. Mukhtar sits second on the all-time active list with eight Player of the Matchday awards since arriving at Nashville SC in 2020. Denis Bouanga #99 of Los Angeles Football Club shoots and scores against LD Alajuelense. Topping that list is an even steeper climb. Messi leads all active players with 13 MLS Matchday awards, eight more than Bouanga, having become the first player to claim six across back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025. He has already added another in 2026, taking home the Matchday 2 honor, also against Orlando City, a strong sign that his form shows no signs of fading. Bouanga chasing hat-trick record Unlike Messi and Mukhtar, who operate more as playmakers, Bouanga has built his MLS reputation on his goal-scoring ability. Saturday’s hat trick pushed his regular-season contributions to 99, with 69 goals and 30 assists in 107 games. Netting all three goals within the first 28 minutes also made it the fourth-fastest hat trick from the opening whistle in MLS history. One milestone he is firmly chasing is the all-time MLS regular-season hat-trick record. His tally now stands at five, leaving him within striking distance of Josef Martinez’s mark of seven. By contrast, Messi has scored just two MLS hat tricks, both with Inter Miami, with the most recent coming in October 2025 against Nashville.