The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is paying close attention to Son Heung-min's transformation into a center-forward, evaluating him as a "new striker model" fundamentally different from existing center-forwards. Since his move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in August, Son Heung-min has demonstrated explosive form, recording 8 goals and 4 assists in 9 games for his club and national team.
FIFA defines the core of Son Heung-min's change as his "movement that freely roams between the defensive line and midfield, not staying confined to the box." This is a unique ability that nullifies the opponent's offside trap and maximizes his speed and penetration to exploit the space behind the defense. The opening goal and the setup for the second goal in the friendly match against the United States on the 7th are prime examples of this 'Son Heung-min Shift'.
Steve Cherundolo, the coach of his club LAFC, cited "intensity and quality" as the biggest values Son Heung-min has brought to the team. The fact that his teammate Denis Bouanga has scored 9 goals in 7 games since Son's arrival also proves that his destructive power is having a positive impact on the entire team.
Son Heung-min's role as a number 9 is fundamentally different from that of a traditional center-forward. While a traditional number 9 focuses on physical battles and headers inside the box, Son starts centrally but moves freely to the left and right, creating space. His routes to goal are also diverse, not limited to finishing inside the box, but including counter-attacks, quick penetration runs, and individual dribbles.
His central deployment has brought about a fundamental change in the team's tactics. When Son Heung-min draws the attention of the opposing defense centrally, space naturally opens up on the flanks, which can be actively utilized by LAFC's Bouanga and Martínez, or the Korean national team's Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung. In the midfield, there is also an effect of enhanced forward momentum, such as adjustments to the timing of passes by midfielders and an increase in the use of box-to-box type players.
FIFA highly praised Son, stating, "Son Heung-min is currently playing at the center of the football that suits him best," and that "with the addition of experience and maturity, he has evolved into a complete attacker who can deliver a fatal blow at crucial moments." This transformation of Son Heung-min is expected to be a core weapon for the Korean national team in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
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