Lionel Messi confronted referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere after Inter Miami's heavy loss to LAFC, resulting in an incident that required Luis Suarez to hold him back.
In a tense moment following Inter Miami's decisive 3-0 defeat to LAFC in their 2026 Major League Soccer opener, Lionel Messi was visibly furious and attempted to confront referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere. The match, held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, saw Messi's team outplayed, which contributed to his frustration. Luis Suarez intervened to restrain Messi, illustrating the emotional stakes involved as the team faced a significant loss.
The match was marked by LAFC's strong performance, with Son Heung-min playing a pivotal role by assisting the opening goal scored by David Martinez in the 38th minute. The subsequent goals from Denis Mouanga and Nathan Ordaz not only sealed LAFC's victory but also highlighted Inter Miami's struggles, marking their largest defeat since September and breaking a streak where they had previously outperformed LAFC in their last three encounters.
This defeat comes as a blow to Inter Miami, which is trying to establish itself as a leading team in Major League Soccer after winning the MLS Cup in 2022. The fallout from this confrontation raises questions about team discipline and morale as they look to rebound from this disappointing start to the season. Messi's emotional reaction reflects the high expectations placed on him and the team, and it will be interesting to see how they respond in future matches.
