LOS ANGELES -- LAFC sent a thunderous message to the rest of Major League Soccer on Saturday night, dismantling defending champions Inter Miami CF 3-0 at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the 2026 MLS season opener.

A staggering crowd of 75,673 packed the historic venue, setting a new record for the most-attended opening weekend match in MLS history and the second-highest attendance figure for any MLS match ever. The fans were treated to a masterclass from the hosts, who completely neutralized Lionel Messi and company from start to finish.

The first half was a tense affair until LAFC broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Timothy Tillman forced a turnover in a dangerous area, and Son Heung-min capitalized immediately, threading a precise pass to David Martinez, who made no mistake with the finish to put LAFC ahead 1-0. The goal underlined the relentless pressing game that head coach Steve Cherundolo has instilled in his squad, and Inter Miami simply could not cope with the intensity.

Messi and his teammates came out searching for an equalizer after the break, but it was LAFC who extended their advantage. In the 73rd minute, Tillman launched a brilliant long pass over the top of the Miami defense, catching new goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair hopelessly stranded outside his penalty area. Denis Bouanga calmly took the ball around the exposed keeper and slotted into an empty net to make it 2-0. The Gabonese forward's clinical finish effectively killed the contest.

Nathan Ordaz added the exclamation point in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Bouanga once again carved open the Miami defense along the left flank before delivering a pinpoint pass into the heart of the penalty area, where Ordaz arrived right on cue to fire home and complete a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

Son Heung-min was the creative heartbeat of LAFC's performance. The South Korean star's assist to Martinez was his fifth in 14 league appearances since his blockbuster move from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2025, and his fourth assist of 2026 across all competitions in just two matches. His combination play with Bouanga and Tillman gave Inter Miami's defense nightmares throughout the evening.

For Inter Miami, the defeat laid bare the challenges of life without retired midfield anchors Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, whose departures have left significant holes in the squad's structure. Messi was largely isolated throughout the match, starved of service as LAFC's midfield dominated possession and transitions.

The result extended LAFC's remarkable perfect record in MLS season openers to nine wins from nine attempts, a streak that spans the club's entire existence. It also served as a statement of intent from a side that many had written off as underdogs heading into the new campaign.

As Inter Miami regroup and prepare for the long season ahead, they will need to find answers quickly. For LAFC, the night belonged to Son, Bouanga, and a defense that refused to give Messi an inch. If this opener was any indication, the battle for MLS Cup 2026 promises to be fiercely contested.