Leo Messi, nightmare debut in the new MLS season » Inter Miami was “KO” by Heung-Min Son's team
Article by Dragoș Petrescu – Published on Sunday, 22 February 2026, 10:29 / Updated on Sunday, 22 February 2026 10:29
Lionel Messi (38 years old) missed the start of the new MLS season. Inter Miamithe team for which the Argentinian star plays, lost on the score of no-show on the field of the Los Angeles FC0-3, in the first round of the new season.
The complete MLS first round schedule
The defending champion from the USA had no chance against the team of Heung-Min Son and Hugo Lloris. With Leo Messi in full force, Inter Miami suffered a stinging defeat in Los Angeles in front of 75,673 spectators (the second largest crowd in MLS history).
Heung-Min Son narrowly won the duel with Leo Messi
The former Tottenham captain did not score, but he played an important role in his team's first goal, providing the decisive assist for David Martinez's success, which opened the scoring at the end of the first half, in the 38th minute to be exact.
In the second act, the hosts scored twice more. First through Denis Bouanga, in the 73rd minute, and the newcomer Nathan Ordaz, the player introduced on the field in place of Son, set the final score in the fourth additional minute of the meeting, after a pass from the same Bouanga.
Luis Suarez started the game only on the visitors' bench, but Javier Mascherano threw him into the fray in the 81st minute, when the hosts were leading 2-0.
Following this result, Leo Messi's team only occupies the penultimate place in the Eastern Conference standings, with no points. In the 4th position is DC United, the club where Louis Munteanu plays, who managed to win the first match of the season, 1-0 “at home” against Philadelphia Union.
On the other hand, the lineup from Los Angeles completes the podium of the Western Conference.
In the upcoming stage of MLS, Inter Miami will also perform away, on the field of Orlando City, while LAFC will travel to Houston, for the match against Dynamo.
Standings in MLS (Western Conference):
SOURCE: Flashscore
Standings in MLS (Eastern Conference):
SOURCE: Flashscore
Los Angeles FC – Inter Miami » Starting teams:
LAFC (4-3-3): Lloris – Palencia, Tafari, Porteous, Segura – Tillman, Eustaquio, Delgado – Martinez, Son, Bouanga
reserves: Hasal – Boudri, Boyd, Choiniere, Hollingshead, Nielsen, Ordaz, Raposo, Smolyakov
Coach: Marc Dos Santos
INTER MIAMI (4-2-3-1): St. Clair – Fray, Falcon, Micael, Allen – De Paul, Bright – Silvetti, Messi, Segovia – Berterame
reserves: Rios – Allende, Ayala, Lujan, Morales, Mura, Ruiz, Suarez
Coach: Javier Mascherano
Stadium: BMO Stadium (Los Angeles, California)
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (Canada)
