Denis Bouanga, winger for Los Angeles FC, disclosed that he swapped jerseys with Lionel Messi after their MLS match because his son requested the souvenir. Bouanga made this revelation following his standout performance, where he scored and assisted in LAFC’s decisive 3-0 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday, February 21.
LAFC Surpasses Expectations with Convincing Victory Over Inter Miami
The matchup featured defending champions Inter Miami as clear favorites to start their season strongly. However, LAFC, energized by stars like Son Heung-Min and Bouanga, dominated the game to secure a commanding 3-0 triumph. David Martinez opened the scoring in the 38th minute, followed by Bouanga’s goal in the 73rd minute and a late strike from Nathan Ordaz during stoppage time.
Bouanga Emphasizes Desire to Beat Messi’s Team
After the match, the LAFC winger spoke with the media about the significance of defeating the team led by Messi. According to journalist Jose Armando on X, Bouanga said:
“I swapped shirts with Messi because my son wanted it. These kinds of matches are always special, we wanted to beat Inter Miami because it’s Messi’s team”
— Denis Bouanga, LAFC winger
Messi’s Frustration Evident Despite Post-Game Jersey Swap
Although Lionel Messi engaged in the shirt exchange, reports from Bolavip noted that the Argentine star was visibly upset right after the heavy loss. He was seen storming through the tunnel with apparent anger, prompting Luis Suarez to intervene and calm the situation to prevent any escalation.
Inter Miami’s Coach Javier Mascherano Reflects on the Defeat
Following the disappointing start to their MLS season, Inter Miami’s manager Javier Mascherano offered his analysis of the match. He acknowledged the team’s shortcomings but insisted that the final scoreline did not fully represent the game’s flow. Mascherano highlighted that despite possessing 68 percent of the ball and creating multiple chances, Miami failed to capitalize in front of goal.
According to Jose Armando via Inter Miami News Hub on X, Mascherano stated:
“You’ll never hear me make individual assessments about the players, and even less so in defeat; I’m the only one responsible. We don’t go crazy when we win, nor are we going to make a tragedy out of a loss. We know we have to improve a lot and keep focusing on the positive things.”
He further added:
“In the second half the team had even more control and we had chances in the first 20 and 25 minutes. They beat us fair and square, that’s the reality. It’s hard to explain the match when you lose by three goals, I think it’s a misleading result.”
— Javier Mascherano, Inter Miami manager
Upcoming Challenges for Inter Miami Following the Setback
After suffering this significant defeat, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will aim to regroup as they prepare to face Orlando City in their next MLS fixture on Sunday, March 1. The team’s response in upcoming games will be closely watched as they seek to bounce back from this early-season disappointment.
🗣️Mascherano: "You'll never hear me make individual assessments about the players, and even less so in defeat; I'm the only one responsible"
Via @Jarm21 pic.twitter.com/LPQQ9KhXXo
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) February 22, 2026
