Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) earned his first career victory in a head-to-head with Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami).
LAFC defeated Inter Miami 3-0 in the opening match of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, United States, at 11:30 a.m. on the 22nd (Korean time).
With this, LAFC proved its credentials as a title contender by defeating the defending champion Miami from the first match. For Mark Dos Santos, who is leading the team from this season, it was also a refreshing MLS debut.
This match attracted attention beyond MLS worldwide. It was the stage where Messi, a legend in the history of world football, and Son Heung-min, a legend of Asian football, finally clashed. The matchup had been anticipated since Son Heung-min joined LAFC in August last year, but because they were in different conferences, it only came together now.
Because of that, the venue was set not at LAFC's home BMO Stadium but at the 77,000-seat Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which could accommodate more fans. In fact, 75,673 fans filled the stands that day.
The head-to-head was set when Son Heung-min and Messi were both named to the starting lineup. The last time both started and faced each other was 2,699 days earlier on Oct. 4, 2018, in a UEFA Champions League group stage match. At that time, Barcelona defeated Tottenham 4-2 behind Messi's multi-goal performance.
This time the two legends met in different uniforms. The home team LAFC, led by Dos Santos, started in a 4-3-3 formation. Denis Bouanga, Son Heung-min, David Martinez; Marco Delgado, Stephen Eustáquio, Timothy Tillman; Eddie Segura, Ryan Fortune, Nkosi Tapari, Sergi Palencia; Hugo Lloris started in the lineup.
The visiting Miami, coached by Javier Mascherano, deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Hermann Véterame; Tellasco Segovia, Messi, Mateo Silveti; Yannick Wright, Rodrigo De Paul; Noah Allen, Mikael, Maximiliano Falcón, Ian Fray; Dane Saint Clair formed the starting lineup.
From the start Son Heung-min had a golden chance but failed to capitalize. In the sixth minute of the first half he broke behind Miami's high defensive line, and Bouanga played a through pass. Facing a one-on-one, Son faked and beat the goalkeeper, but mistimed his shot. Bouanga collected the ball and shot, but the goalkeeper made the save.
Son swallowed his disappointment. In the 14th minute of the first half he earned a good free kick near the box and took it himself with a right-footed shot. But the ball from Son's foot hit the wall, and his follow-up volley also struck a defender and deflected.
Miami tried to control the game with strong high pressing overall. Messi produced a flash of a pass, but aside from that they lacked precision in the final third. Apart from Son Heung-min, LAFC focused on defense and looked for counterattack opportunities.
LAFC opened the scoring. As always, it began with Son Heung-min's touch. In the 38th minute of the first half, after intercepting the ball high up, Son delivered a perfect pass to Martinez, who had made a run into the wide right space. Martinez struck the net with a precise one-touch finish and celebrated with Son Heung-min.
Both teams exchanged threatening shots. In first-half stoppage time, Martinez once again faced a one-on-one with the goalkeeper on a counterattack. Son dragged defenders with him to create space, but Martinez's shot narrowly missed this time. Miami sought the equalizer with Messi's left-footed curl from the top of the arc, but it glanced off the post.
Miami increased the intensity right at the start of the second half. Dependence on Messi remained high, but their movement improved compared with the first half. In the 18th minute of the second half, Véterame connected Messi's cross with a powerful header that struck the side netting.
The LAFC bench, having ceded momentum, made moves. In the 23rd minute of the second half they brought on Mathieu Choinière for Martinez to add energy. LAFC removed midfielder Bright and put on winger Tadeo Allende to increase attacking numbers.
LAFC, which had been holding on well, grabbed a second goal. Again it came from a single counterattack. In the 28th minute of the second half Tillman played a long pass from the back, Bouanga flicked the ball with his head and beat the rushing goalkeeper. Bouanga calmly pushed the ball into the empty net, then jumped high and clapped hands with Son Heung-min.
Son nearly added an assist. In the 43rd minute of the second half he beat the goalkeeper in a tight space with a brilliant bit of footwork and laid the ball off to Bouanga. But the ball did not sit perfectly on Bouanga's foot and Miami's defense barely cleared it. Having done his part, Son was substituted in the 44th minute of the second half and went to the bench.
LAFC put the result beyond doubt. In the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time Bouanga drove into the left side of the box with individual skill and delivered a sharp low cross. Nathan Ordaz calmly tucked it in to make it 3-0. The match ended as a big win for LAFC.
This was the first time Son Heung-min beat Messi as an opponent. Before this match, Messi led their head-to-head with one win and one draw.
To date the two have met only twice in their careers. They faced each other twice in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League group stage wearing Tottenham and Barcelona shirts, respectively. Messi prevailed then, but this time Son Heung-min smiled after recording an attacking point.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), LAFC social media.
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