The Inter Miami star started his club’s defense of the MLS Cup title with a crushing defeat away to rivals Los Angeles FC.
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Published February 22, 2026
David Martinez scored in the first half, Dennis Bouanga added a goal and an assist in the second, and Los Angeles FC defeated Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Substitute Nathan Aldous added the winning goal, and the game was moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, drawing a crowd of 75,673, making it the second regular-season game in MLS history to not include a doubleheader.
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Son Heung-min provided the final assist on Martinez’s opener for LAFC, who have lost just twice in 16 games since signing the South Korean star last summer.
Hugo Lloris made three saves for the hosts, keeping Messi’s Herons scoreless in his first 15 competitive games, a record that dates back to a 3-0 regular-season loss to Charlotte on September 13.
Mexican and Argentine striker Bertelame, a German, made his debut for Miami and enjoyed 63% possession.
But LAFC consistently threatened in transition, especially in the first half, and ended the night leading 16-13 in shots and 6-3 in shots on target.
In one such moment, Martinez gave LAFC the lead in the 38th minute.
Timothy Tillman used his tenacious defense to reverse Messi’s national teammate Rodrigo De Paul in midfield and start the attack.
The ball fell to Steven Eustaquio, who made a first-touch pass to Son in the box. Son slotted it to Martinez’s left, who slotted it past Dane St. Clair for his eighth MLS goal.
St. Clair caused trouble for Bouanga’s goal in the 73rd minute when he darted out of the box for Tillman’s diagonal ball.
But Bouanga narrowly took the lead, heading the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.
Bouanga then set up Aldaz to score in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, beating a defender on the left and firing in a low cross.
