The MLS All-Stars defeated the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 in Wednesday night’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium.
Son Heung-min was the standout performer, netting two goals in a three-minute span during the first half to effectively decide the contest in MLS’s favour.
Both of Son’s goals came from assists by Carles Gil, with the LAFC forward finishing coolly on each occasion to silence any doubt about the outcome.
The South Korean star celebrated each goal with his well-known “camera” celebration, mimicking an old-fashioned camera with his fingers before pretending to snap a picture.
Son was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, a fitting honour for a performance that lifted 35,197 fans inside Bank of America Stadium to their feet.
Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel and FC Cincinnati’s Evander da Silva Ferreira also got on the scoresheet for the MLS All-Stars, adding vital goals to secure the victory.
Liga MX drew first blood when Luis Gabriel Rey sent a running header off a free kick past United States men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Freese just 10 minutes into the game.
Salomon Rondon pulled one back for Liga MX early in the second half, before Ferreira restored the two-goal cushion in the 58th minute, and Jose Paradela added a late extra-time goal to make it a nervy finish.
“I had great players, amazing players around me and that made my job easier,” said Son after the match. “Scoring two goals makes the night really special.”
Nashville FC midfielder Hany Mukhtar was equally effusive in his praise, saying of Son: “He’s an unbelievable player. He’s a world class player for a reason. He shows it every week, and we all know how good he is. We see it in training, and I’m not surprised at what he did.”
Liga MX held the statistical advantage in terms of possession, shots, shots on goal, and passes throughout the game, though the result is the only metric that ultimately matters.
The 34-year-old former Tottenham star had faced criticism following South Korea’s failure to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup, making this display all the more satisfying.
Son has been in excellent form since MLS resumed after its World Cup break, registering three goals in three matches for LAFC heading into the All-Star Game.
MLS’s biggest name, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, was absent after Argentina’s deep World Cup run, which ended in a final defeat to Spain, meaning Son had the stage entirely to himself.
This result marks MLS’s second consecutive victory over Liga MX in the All-Star Game, and their fourth win in five matchups since 2021, setting the perfect tone ahead of Leagues Cup.
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