Messi HUMILIATED! Inter Miami Crushed 3-0 - What Went WRONG?!

Well, folks, it wasn't the fairytale start Inter Miami and Lionel Messi were hoping for. The reigning MLS champs got a reality check Saturday night, falling hard to Los Angeles FC in a decisive 3-0 defeat. It was a statement win for LAFC, fueled by goals from David Martínez, Denis Bouanga, and Nathan Ordaz, proving they're not ready to hand over the crown just yet.

Messi HUMILIATED! Inter Miami Crushed 3-0 - What W...

Son Heung-min, making his presence felt, orchestrated that opening goal for Martínez, really setting the tone for LAFC’s ambition. You could feel the energy in the stadium – a packed house of 75,673 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the second-largest crowd in MLS history. It was electric.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber was clearly thrilled with the turnout. "This game would have sold out five times at BMO, but we wanted to do something special," he said. And honestly, he's right. Hosting it in the Coliseum really felt like a "big moment" for the league.

Despite the loss, all eyes were on Messi, of course. Even with a recent hamstring strain, he played, and the California crowd reacted to his every touch with a mix of cheers and, let's be honest, some good-natured jeers. It's clear he's still working on building that chemistry with his new-look squad. Remember, they’ve had some significant changes, with Busquets and Alba retiring and new faces like German Berterame and Dayne St. Clair joining the ranks. St. Clair, unfortunately, had a bit of a misjudgment that led to Bouanga’s goal, a reminder that even top-tier keepers can have off nights.

This win was especially sweet for LAFC's head coach, Marc Dos Santos, marking a successful MLS debut for him. He's no stranger to the team, having served as an assistant coach for a while, and he's clearly got the team firing on all cylinders. Remember that 6-1 drubbing they gave Real España earlier in the week? This guy knows how to get a team ready to play.

Martínez's goal in the 38th minute was a beauty, a testament to Son's vision and Martinez's finishing. Bouanga, fresh off a hat trick in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, continued his hot streak, and Ordaz put the nail in the coffin with that late goal. All in all, it was a comprehensive performance from LAFC. They’ve now got a solid 4-2-0 record against Miami and an impressive 9-0-0 record in season openers. Not too shabby!

Looking ahead, LAFC has a quick turnaround with the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup against Real España on Tuesday. Inter Miami, on the other hand, has some work to do to regroup and show the league they're still the team to beat. One thing's for sure: this MLS season is shaping up to be a wild ride.