LAFC Vs Inter Miami Highlights, MLS 2026: Lionel Messi’s Herons Start Season With 3-0 Defeat

Hello and welcome to our MLS 2026 live blog! It’s Los Angeles FC up against Inter Miami, and the spotlight is firmly on Lionel Messi. Messi fans, buckle up, there’s excitement, drama, and magic in the air. Stay with us as the action unfolds from the very first kick.

All MLS 2026 matches, including LAFC vs Inter Miami, will be live-streamed globally on Apple TV.

Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami have faced each other five times in competitive matches. LAFC have won three times, while Inter Miami have won twice. They faced each other twice in 2025 in the CONCACAF Champions League, with Inter Miami winning the last encounter 3-1.

Kick-off! We’re underway in MLS 2026.

And here we go! Inter Miami get us started as the ball rolls at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The noise is up, the pace is sharp already, and all eyes are scanning for that familiar No. 10 in pink. Buckle up, this one’s officially live.

A sharp through ball opens up Inter Miami and suddenly LAFC are in behind. Racing into the final third with no one around, the chance looks nailed on.

The goalkeeper is beaten, the crowd rises, but the decision is to square it instead of pulling the trigger. The cut-back finds Bouanga, whose effort is kept out, and Miami breathe again. That was a golden opening, and LAFC will feel they should have more.

A late challenge stops a promising LAFC move, and the referee isn’t interested in letting it go. Noah Allen is the one whistled for the foul, and David Martínez is quickly back on his feet, pointing toward the attacking half. Set-piece territory now, and Inter Miami drop back to organise. Pressure building.

LAFC just won’t let up. Another corner, another surge of noise from the stands, and the ball drops kindly for Bouanga. He goes for the volley as it bounces, looks dangerous all the way, and then a body appears out of nowhere.

Segovia steps in with a huge block, and Inter Miami survive again. They’re hanging on right now, while LAFC keep asking questions.

Ian Fray steps up and wins a free kick in their own half, giving Inter Miami a chance to regroup and catch their breath. LAFC have been relentless so far, and Miami need every second to reset before the next wave comes.

After mounting wave after wave of pressure, Los Angeles FC find the breakthrough. Rodrigo De Paul loses possession in midfield, and Son Heung-min is quick to pounce, slipping a perfect pass to David Martínez.

The midfielder keeps his cool and tucks a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner, no chance for Segovia. LAFC lead 1-0, and the crowd erupts as Miami scramble to respond.

The fourth official signals 7 minutes of added time, and it’s mostly down to the injury earlier to Eustaquio in the 39th minute. The midfielder took a nasty poke in the eye and needed immediate attention, which ate up a chunk of the half. Plenty of time left for Miami to try and level before the break.

Just before the break, Messi finds some space outside the box and lets fly with a curling left-footed effort. Lloris dives full stretch, but the shot just drifts wide and out for a goal kick. The Herons are still hunting for that equalizer, and the first half ends with LAFC holding a 1-0 lead.

Los Angeles FC take a slender lead into the break, and their simple, smart approach has worked perfectly so far. Son Heung-min drops in as a secondary striker, dragging defenders out of position, while David Martínez times his runs to perfection and slots home the decisive goal. Miami had their chances, but LAFC’s clever movement and clinical finishing make all the difference at the interval.

The players are back on the pitch as LAFC resume the action, holding a 1-0 lead, while Inter Miami CF are hunting for a way back. All eyes are on Lionel Messi, will he kick off his MLS 2026 campaign with heartbreak, or is a dramatic comeback on the cards? The second half promises all the twists and turns, and we’re here for every moment.

Rodrigo De Paul earns a free kick in Inter Miami’s own half, giving the Herons a moment to regroup. LAFC have been pressing hard, and this stoppage gives Messi and co. a chance to reset and plan their next move.

LAFC are moving the ball with ease, soaking up the pressure from a desperate Inter Miami. The visitors are testing every angle, but the home side’s defence remains solid.

If this scoreline holds, LAFC would climb to fourth in the Western Conference, while Miami would linger in 10th in the East. Messi and his teammates will need something special to turn things around.

Noah Allen is booked for a foul, halting Miami’s momentum once again. LAFC get a chance to reset as the Herons regroup and try to find a way through the tight defence.

The home side has shifted their setup, moving from a 4-3-3 to a wider 4-4-2 that’s morphing into a 4-5-1. The message is clear: protect the slim 1-0 lead at all costs. Inter Miami are probing, but LAFC are happy to sit deep and absorb the pressure for now.

Inter Miami’s urgency backfires as LAFC strike again. St. Clair comes rushing off his line, but Bouanga rises highest, flicking a precise header over the goalkeeper and into the net. The home side now lead 2-0, and the momentum is firmly with LAFC as the Herons scramble to respond.

Son Heung-min makes way for Nathan Ordaz as LAFC look to push for a third goal. The atmosphere is electric, with over 75,000 fans packed into the stadium, a clear sign of MLS’s rising popularity ahead of this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Nathan Ordaz, coming off the bench, adds the icing on the cake. Assisted by Denis Bouanga, Ordaz fires a calm right-footed finish from close range to make it 3-0. The home crowd erupts as LAFC wrap up a dominant win, leaving Messi and Inter Miami with a lot to think about.

That’s a wrap from the LA Memorial Coliseum. We’ll be back with more live action soon. Until then, goodbye.