Lionel Messi showed visible frustration after Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 defeat against LAFC in their 2026 MLS season opener at the LA Memorial Coliseum. The west coast clash saw Son Heung-min’s LAFC dominate throughout, leading by a goal at halftime and extending their lead with two more strikes in the second half.
David Martinez opened the scoring for the hosts in the 38th minute, before Denis Bouanga doubled the advantage with 17 minutes remaining. Nathan Ordaz added a stoppage-time goal to seal the convincing victory, leaving Messi and his teammates disheartened by the lopsided result.
Messi’s Post-Match Conduct Sparks Controversy and Teammate Intervention
After the match, footage released by Síntesis Deportes revealed Messi waiting in the tunnel for the match officials to return to their changing area. The 38-year-old appeared visibly upset and had to be physically restrained by teammate Luis Suarez as he followed the referees through a doorway.
Messi briefly re-entered the tunnel before retreating to Inter Miami’s dressing room with Suarez. The incident quickly gained attention on social media, with speculation about potential disciplinary actions as players are typically barred from entering officials’ locker rooms.
A notable precedent was set in November 2023 when FC Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga received a three-match suspension after entering the referees’ room post-match. However, MLS representatives clarified that Messi’s actions did not breach league rules. A spokesperson stated:
“The area [Messi entered] wasn’t a restricted area, which would have been marked off with signage. It was not the referee’s locker room. The league reviewed the sequence, and did not find Messi or another person involved in violation of any league policies.”
Chris Rivett, director of communications at the Professional Referee Organization (Pro), confirmed with match officials that Messi did not enter their locker room during the incident.
Inter Miami Coach Javier Mascherano Admits Team Must Improve After Difficult Start
Following the defeat, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano acknowledged LAFC as deserving winners while emphasizing the need for improvement within his squad. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said:
“We clearly know we have a lot to improve. We need to keep building on the positive things we’ve done, correct the mistakes we made, and keep moving forward.”
Mascherano added that despite the scoreline, the game did not necessarily reflect a vast difference in play, suggesting Miami’s performance was better than the result indicated.
Looking Ahead: Inter Miami Prepares for Upcoming Florida Derby
After the demoralizing loss to LAFC, Inter Miami and Messi will face their tough Florida rivals Orlando City on Sunday, March 1. The match is highly anticipated, offering Miami a chance to rebound and demonstrate progress after their rocky season opener.
With Messi’s passionate response and Suarez’s intervention capturing headlines, this early-season setback highlights the pressure and expectations facing Inter Miami in 2026 as they look to strengthen their campaign.
