Lionel Messi enters the 2026 season with big ambitions for Inter Miami. He aims to guide the Herons to back-to-back MLS Cup victories while playing in their new Miami Freedom Park stadium.
Even bigger for La Pulga is the challenge with Argentina: leading his national team toward consecutive FIFA World Cup titles this summer as the 2026 World Cup kicks off across North America.
Throughout the season, we’ll be tracking Messi’s performances game by game as the GOAT seeks another unforgettable campaign.
Inter Miami opened their season with a 3-0 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against Son Heung-min and LAFC. The announced crowd of 75,672 set the second-highest attendance in MLS history and the largest ever for a season opener.
After the match, a social media video captured Messi following the referees through the tunnel into the locker room. He appeared visibly frustrated and was restrained by teammate Luis Suarez before both exited the area. The league confirmed that Messi did not breach any policy and will not face suspension.
