Contained in the hallowed concrete bowl of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night time, the Metropolis of Angels obtained to as soon as once more witness
So, on an evening that felt prefer it was stitched collectively by time itself, it was solely becoming that the best participant of his technology obtained the highlight, nevertheless it was the hometown group that stole the present.
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The Los Angeles Soccer Membership defeated the reigning , 3-0, to open the 2026 Main League Soccer season. And sure, Lionel Messi was there. The Argentine legend walked beneath the peristyle and right into a constructing that has swallowed gods earlier than him.
Messi discovered himself swarmed any time he obtained a contact. AP
He left with no purpose and with no smile, however the 75,673 individuals, the biggest Opening Day crowd and the second-largest complete in MLS historical past, obtained to witness Messi play dwell. And that was greater than well worth the worth of admission. Black and gold scarves fluttered beneath Olympic torches. Pink jerseys shimmered underneath California night time. It felt much less like Matchday 1 and extra like a remaining.
Messi walked out for warmups to a noise that shook the press field. Each contact throughout introductions drew a response — not fairly worship, not fairly hostility, however one thing nearer to reverence. Los Angeles loves stars. It additionally loves measuring them.
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Messi entered this season because the reigning back-to-back MLS MVP, the Golden Boot winner, the engine behind Miami’s championship run. He scored 29 objectives final common season, added 19 assists, after which turned the postseason into a private gallery with 15 purpose contributions.
Marc Dos Santos, starting his first full marketing campaign as LAFC head coach, didn’t flinch. He arrange his aspect with one eye on Messi always: compact, disciplined, daring Miami’s midfield — now with out Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba — to create with out their previous metronomes. Rodrigo De Paul pressed. Germán Berterame tried to stretch the road.
And nonetheless, Messi discovered himself swarmed any time he obtained a contact.
“After we ready the sport, we ready for the perfect Messi,” mentioned Dos Santos about defending Messi. “It’s a must to have numbers round him. When he has the ball you need to observe all of the runs, you need to proceed all of your runs. When it got here to that a part of our sport immediately it was an A+.”
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Stephen Eustáquio tracked him. Timothy Tillman shadowed passing lanes. Hugo Lloris, the 2018 World Cup champion in LAFC’s internet, commanded his backline like a conductor elevating tempo.
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Each time Messi drifted into that acquainted pocket between traces, a black-and-gold shirt appeared like a closing door.
Stephen Eustáquio tracked him. Timothy Tillman shadowed passing lanes. Hugo Lloris, the 2018 World Cup champion in LAFC’s internet, commanded his backline like a conductor elevating tempo. AFP through Getty Photos
For 36 minutes, it was tense. Then the breakthrough occurred.
Within the thirty seventh minute, Son Heung-min acquired the ball in house, gliding throughout the left channel with that acquainted upright grace. The South Korean icon — now totally embedded in LAFC’s id after arriving from Tottenham for a league-record payment — has the uncommon reward of creating pace look serene.
He glanced up as soon as and slid a go to an unmarked David Martinez with surgical calm. Martínez met it with a left-footed strike, driving the ball to the far submit past Dayne St. Clair’s outstretched glove. 1-0 LAFC.
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“He’s made such an impression on our group,” Martinez mentioned of Son by way of a translator. “He’s impacted our locker room, our membership. We’re so fortunate to have him.”
Within the 72nd minute, Timothy Tillman launched a protracted, arcing ball from midfield. Denis Bouanga accelerated and outran the Miami backline, he met the descending ball with a deft header volley that floated previous St. Clair, he then chased it down and tapped into the empty internet.
It was audacious. It was athletic. It was merciless. It was 2-0 LAFC.
Messi had moments, however LAFC’s backline didn’t break. They outplayed the champions. They neutralized the legend. They’d turned Opening Day right into a declaration.
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“This sport is all the time particular as a result of Messi is there,” mentioned Bouanga of enjoying towards Messi and exchanging his jersey with him postgame. “I modified jerseys with Messi as a result of my son wished his jersey. It was a great feeling to be enjoying towards Messi on the sphere.”
This sport is all the time particular as a result of Messi is there.
Only for good measure, LAFC added a 3rd purpose within the waning minutes when Bouanga despatched a cross into the 6-yard field the place Nathan Ordaz buried it into the again of the web. 3-0 LAFC.
Saturday was not a passing of the torch — Son Heung-min and Messi function in several constellations — nevertheless it was a reminder that MLS not exists merely to showcase one man. The league is deeper. Quicker. Much less deferential.
However for one night time, the game of soccer orbited round Los Angeles.