LOS ANGELES — Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 World Cup champion, made his return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday night, but it was far from the fairy-tale start fans had hoped for. In Inter Miami's season opener against Los Angeles FC at the L.A. Coliseum, Messi struggled to find his rhythm as his team suffered a decisive 3-0 defeat before a crowd of more than 75,600 spectators. The match, billed as a marquee clash featuring Messi against South Korean star Son Heung-min, highlighted early concerns about the 38-year-old Argentine's fitness heading into what could be his final World Cup appearance.
The game unfolded under the bright lights of the Coliseum, where LAFC supporters dominated the atmosphere, many donning jerseys with Son's name on the back. Inter Miami, the defending MLS Cup champions, entered the contest amid uncertainty about Messi's participation. He had suffered a hamstring injury during a preseason friendly in February, raising doubts about his readiness for the 2026 MLS season. Despite those concerns, Miami head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed on Friday that Messi had been training at the same level as the rest of the team throughout the week.
From the opening whistle, Messi's play appeared uncharacteristically imprecise. In the first 10 minutes, his touches on the ball lacked the usual sharpness, and the timing of his passes was off. According to observers, his distribution improved as the match progressed, and he came close to providing an assist on a few occasions. However, Messi's shooting was ineffective; he failed to hit the target once during the 90 minutes. Miami's new striker, Germán Berterame, also struggled to connect with the team's playmaker, contributing to the Herons' inability to build momentum early on.
LAFC struck first in the 20th minute when David Martínez scored, assisted by Son, who had joined the club after leaving Tottenham Hotspur last year. The goal ignited the home crowd, and LAFC's momentum carried into the second half. Denis Bouanga added a second goal, followed by Nathan Ordaz's strike that sealed the 3-0 victory. Son, the 33-year-old South Korean international with his own World Cup ambitions, was a standout, drawing significant cheers from the predominantly black-and-gold clad fans.
Messi, wearing the pink kit of Inter Miami, did not receive the overwhelming adulation typically afforded to him. When he had possession, the cheers were muted, and late in the game, after he fell without earning a foul, boos echoed from sections of the Coliseum. Postmatch, Mascherano addressed the refereeing decisions and his captain's demeanor, saying, "No, no, no I didn't see anything." He added that after the match, he immediately headed to the locker room.
Following the final whistle, Messi exchanged jerseys with Bouanga and was the first to leave the field, exiting swiftly amid the disappointment. Mascherano reflected on the loss in his press conference, acknowledging LAFC's dominance while offering a measured perspective. "The reality is that they beat us fair and square, that's the truth," he said. "I think it's often difficult to explain when you lose 3-0, but my initial analysis gives me the feeling that the result was somewhat misleading. The game, as it unfolded, there wasn't that much of a difference."
The coach emphasized the importance of looking beyond the scoreline. "As coaching staff, we have to analyze the game, not just the result, because if we only focus on the result, we're only making decisions based on whether we win or lose," Mascherano stated. "I think that in the game, we saw aspects of the style of play we want, which we need to improve." Despite the defeat, he noted that Messi had recently returned to full-team training after his injury recovery, suggesting the performance was not entirely unexpected.
Messi's form in this opener comes at a pivotal time. At 38, the forward has been candid about his physical condition influencing his participation in Argentina's national team for the upcoming World Cup. Back in October, he expressed his desire to compete but with caveats. "I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there," Messi said. "I am going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter [Miami] and see if I can really be 100%. I'm really eager because it's the World Cup."
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has left the door open for Messi's involvement, deferring to the player himself. In December, Scaloni commented, "He will decide, and we will support whatever he decides. In principle, everything is going well, but six months is a long time. There is still time." With the World Cup now just four months away, Messi's early-season struggles have amplified speculation about his readiness for the international stage.
The match also underscored the growing rivalry in MLS between Eastern Conference powerhouse Inter Miami and Western Conference contender LAFC. Son's arrival in Los Angeles has bolstered the team's ambitions, mirroring Messi's transformative impact since joining Miami in 2023. The crowd's fervor for Son, who wore the No. 7 jersey, highlighted how the Korean star has quickly become a fan favorite in a city known for its diverse soccer following.
Inter Miami's loss marks a challenging start to their title defense, but Mascherano remains optimistic about the team's potential. He pointed to positive elements in their play, such as Messi's handful of dangerous passes that nearly resulted in goals and his occasional bursts forward with the ball. While Messi's performance was described as decent by some reports, it fell short of the exceptional standards he has set throughout his career.
Looking back, Messi's hamstring injury in February's preseason friendly had sidelined him for weeks, and his return to training was a significant milestone. Mascherano's pre-match assurance that Messi was fully integrated into sessions suggested confidence, yet the game's outcome revealed areas for adjustment, particularly in syncing with Berterame up front. LAFC's clinical finishing, led by Martínez, Bouanga, and Ordaz, exploited Miami's lapses.
The broader context of a World Cup year adds weight to every Miami match for Messi. As the tournament approaches in the summer, his club form will be closely scrutinized by fans and pundits alike. Argentina, fresh off their 2022 triumph in Qatar, enters the cycle with high expectations, and Messi's leadership remains central. However, his age and injury history have prompted realistic discussions about his limits.
For now, it's too soon to draw sweeping conclusions from one game. Inter Miami's schedule includes upcoming fixtures that will test their resilience, and Messi has a history of defying doubters. As Mascherano noted, the focus will be on refining their style rather than dwelling on the result. With the season just beginning and the World Cup on the horizon, all eyes remain on the Barcelona legend to rediscover his magic.
In the end, Saturday's events at the L.A. Coliseum served as a reminder of the unforgiving nature of professional soccer. While LAFC celebrated a strong opening statement, Inter Miami and Messi face the task of bouncing back. The clock is ticking toward the global showpiece, and Messi's journey in 2026 will undoubtedly be one of the most watched narratives in the sport.