The 2026 Major League Soccer season began with a duel with high media and sporting impact. Son Heung-min was the main protagonist in commanding the 3-0 victory of Los Angeles FC against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miamiin a game played before more than 76,000 fans at the Memorial Coliseum, one of the largest attendances in league history.
The South Korean forward, who is facing his first full season in California, led the attack of the “Black-and-Gold” team along with Denis Bouanga and David Martínez, being decisive from the first minutes with constant mobility and a key assist.
An effective LAFC punishes a dominant Inter Miami in possession
Although the Miami team controlled much of the ball, coach Marc Dos Santos’ tactical plan worked perfectly: closing spaces around Messi and opting for quick transitions.
The strategy paid off when, after a recovery in midfield, Son filtered a pass to David Martínez, who scored with precision to open the scoring in the first half.
Messi, 38 years old and with little rhythm after a recent muscle discomfort, had a discreet performance. The Argentine failed to finish between the three sticks and was constantly surrounded by the Los Angeles defense, which prioritized nullifying his influence near the area.
Bouanga and Ordaz end a historic night in Los Angeles
In the second half, Inter Miami tried to react with greater offensive aggression, but LAFC struck again at the right moment. Timothy Tillman launched a long ball that Denis Bouanga converted to make it 2-0 after beating the rival goalkeeper.
The third goal came in the final minutes, when Nathan Ordaz took advantage of an individual play on the left culminating in a low shot that closed the win.
Son left the field to applause, although with gestures of frustration at being substituted when he was still looking to expand his impact on the scoreboard.
MLS bets big before the 2026 World Cup
The match also marked the start of a key season for MLS, which will be divided into two phases due to the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Commissioner Don Garber confirmed that the league will invest “tens of millions” of dollars in marketing campaigns to take advantage of the growth in global interest in soccer during the World Cup year.
With performances like that of Son Heung-min and the magnetism of Lionel Messi, the MLS seeks to consolidate its media and sports expansion, betting on great international figures to attract new audiences in North America and the rest of the world.
