Inter Miami Stunned by LAFC in MLS Season Opener
Playing in front of a historic crowd of 75,673 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—the second-largest attendance in MLS history—Javier Mascherano’s side looked outmatched by a clinical LAFC team. Despite being back in the starting lineup after recovering from a recent hamstring injury sustained during a pre-season trip to Ecuador, Argentine legend Lionel Messi struggled to influence the game, appearing physically fatigued and lacking his trademark precision throughout the match.
The encounter was billed as a showdown between two of the league's biggest global icons, Lionel Messi and South Korean superstar Son Heung-min, with the latter clearly winning the personal duel. In the 37th minute, Son set the tone by providing a perfectly timed assist to David Martínez, who opened the scoring for LAFC. Inter Miami had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the first half, but Messi uncharacteristically missed a clear chance, leaving the visitors trailing at the break. LAFC continued their dominance in the second half, with Denis Bouanga doubling the lead in the 73rd minute following a defensive error by Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Nathan Ordaz then added the final blow in stoppage time (94th minute) to secure a comprehensive victory for the home side.
For Son Heung-min, who joined LAFC in August 2025 in a league-record transfer, the match was a triumphant display of his growing chemistry with teammates like Bouanga. On the other hand, the defeat highlighted significant defensive vulnerabilities for Inter Miami, who are also adjusting to a new era following the retirements of veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. While Messi played the full 90 minutes, his subdued performance and Miami's lack of attacking cohesion have raised early-season concerns for the reigning champions as they prepare to face Orlando City in their next fixture.
