Son at the double as MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX 4-3

LAFC's South Korean star Son Heung-min celebrates his second goal for the MLS All-Stars in their 4-3 win over the Liga MX All-Stars in the Major League Soccer All-Star game (Omar Vega)Son Heung-min scored twice to lead the Major League Soccer All-Stars to a 4-3 win over their Liga MX counterparts on Wednesday in the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina.

>Los Angeles FC's South Korean star Son struck in the 20th and 23rd minutes to flip the script after Luis Gabriel Rey put the Liga MX All-Stars ahead.

>"I'm very happy, and I just want to say thank you to everyone," Son said after he was named All-Star MVP.

>The 34-year-old former Tottenham star had shouldered the blame for South Korea's failure to make it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

>But he's been in red-hot form since MLS resumed in the wake of its World Cup break with three goals in three matches for LAFC.

>Son pulled the MLS side level in the 20th, collecting a pass from Carles Gil on the left and firing a low shot past goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo.

>He put the MLS All-Stars ahead for good just minutes later with a spectacular volley off another assist from New England Revolution playmaker Gil.

>Chicago Fire midfielder Philip Zinckernagel's 42nd-minute strike sent the MLS side into half-time ahead 3-1.

>Salomon Rondon scored in the 55th minute to keep the Liga MX side within striking distance, but FC Cincinnati playmaker Evander restored the two-goal advantage in the 55th minute, shortly before Vancouver's German star Thomas Mueller took the field.

>The MLS side needed the cushion, with Jose Paradela adding some late drama with a stoppage time goal for Liga MX.

>The second straight victory for the MLS All-Stars in the mid-season exhibition extended their record over Liga MX teams to 4-1.

>Superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate were excused from the mid-season exhibition, 10 days after Argentina fell to Spain in the World Cup final.

>Miami posted a video on social media on Wednesday showing Messi back in training with his club teammates.

>But it remains unclear when the 39-year-old will return to competition.

>MLS's biggest draw Messi has never appeared in the All-Star Game.

>The 2023 All-Star squad had already been announced when he arrived in the league that year and in 2024 he was sidelined by an ankle injury.

>Last year Messi and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one game for failing to participate.

>bb/dh