“It’s amazing to be together again,” Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris said ahead of Son Heung-min’s MLS debut. The former Tottenham Hotspur goalie joined LAFC in 2024 and had high hopes from his former Spurs teammates. Lloris said the 2025 Europa Cup will have a “really big impact” on LAFC’s offense ahead of their game with Chicago. It turns out the Frenchman hit the nail on the head.

The South Korea captain made his Major League Soccer debut as a substitute for LAFC in the 61st minute, with the score tied 1-1. However, in the next 15 minutes, Chicago would snatch the lead and also score a third goal before the 33-year-old found himself in the perfect place for a counterattack. After Chicago’s striker hit the post, Heung-min received a brilliant through ball and broke away from the pack.

And just like that, Son Heung-min was bearing down on Chicago’s net on the other end before Carlos Terán brought him down inside the penalty area. And while play continued for a few more minutes, VAR confirmed that Heung-min had earned his team a penalty in the 79th minute. Two minutes later, Denis Bouanga converted from the spot, tying the game. Talk about immediate impact!

While Hugo Lloris’ prediction turned out to be true, the French goalkeeper said a lot more about the kind of mindset Heung-min will bring to the squad. “He spent 10 years at Spurs, he did everything that he could, he won the Europa League last season,” said Lloris. “I understand that you arrive at one stage in your career, you need a new target, a new objective,” he added.

And that’s exactly what Son Heung-min wanted. “The main reason is that I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge,” the striker said while announcing he’d no longer continue with the Spurs in the coming season. Lloris believes that Heung-min will bring that determination to LAFC. With that out of the way, what did the 33-year-old feel about his MLS debut?

Son Heung-min’s honest confession after his MLS debut

The Korean National Team captain sat down to give his verdict about the 2-2 draw and his MLS debut. Having played in the Premier League for a decade, Heung-min has experienced playing in front of fans from all across the globe. Yet, what he felt while stepping onto the field for the first time in LAFC’s jersey was something he’d never felt before.

“I really enjoyed it. I mean, you never ever had this welcoming from away fans, we call this. I used to play in the Premier League. When I played away grounds, they were always booing me,” Son Heung-min explained. However, in the way the MLS is growing, American soccer fans are happy just to see world-class stars like Heung-min playing in the MLS.

Although not everything went according to plan for the 33-year-old. The English Premier League veteran thought he’d not just help his side secure a draw but a win. “Obviously a bit disappointed not getting three points, but I think everybody put a lot of effort and I’m happy I made my debut,” Heung-min said during the post-match presser.

“I hope the goals are coming soon. It was a decent 30 minutes on my legs… Hopefully, next week I can start the game and make a big impact,” added Son Heung-min. And yet, many, including Hugo Lloris, would argue that the former Spurs star has already made a big impact during his 30-minute debut.