Son Heung-min wants everyone to take a breath. The South Korean forward, now plying his trade with LAFC after a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, addressed retirement speculation on May 24 with a simple message: he’s not done yet.

“Not talked about his finale yet,” Son said, shutting down the chatter that has followed him since his high-profile move to Major League Soccer.

From North London to Los Angeles

Son’s transfer to LAFC in the summer of 2025 was a record deal for MLS. After ten years at Spurs, where he became one of the Premier League’s most recognizable faces, the move to Los Angeles represented a significant shift.

The retirement talk was predictable. Son is pushing back against that framing with his focus squarely on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Son’s crypto footprint and the NFT play

Back in 2021, Son signed an exclusive licensing agreement with The9 Limited’s NFTSTAR platform. The deal gave the platform rights to produce athlete-branded digital collectibles bearing Son’s likeness and brand.

His retirement comments didn’t trigger any immediate price action in crypto markets, and no new fungible tokens were announced in connection with his statements.

Kraken, FIFA, and the bigger picture

On June 9, 2026, Kraken was named the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026. That partnership represents one of the most significant intersections of cryptocurrency and mainstream sports marketing to date.