David Martínez Steals the Show as LAFC Stun Messi's Inter Miami 2-0 in Blockbuster 2026 MLS Season Opener
LOS ANGELES, February 22, 2026 — The 2026 Major League Soccer season could not have started with a bigger statement. Venezuelan teenage sensation David Martínez was the name on everyone's lips at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night, as Los Angeles Football Club delivered a dominant, tactically flawless 2-0 dismantling of reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF — silencing Lionel Messi and the Herons in front of a packed crowd at the iconic 77,500-capacity venue.
The Goal That Rocked the Coliseum
Martínez broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, finishing a swift Heung-min Son assist to give LAFC a 1-0 lead over Inter Miami CF in the most anticipated opening-night clash the MLS has seen in years. The build-up was a thing of beauty — Rodrigo De Paul delayed an attempted build from the back, Timothy Tillman chased down the mistake and forced a turnover in midfield. Stephen Eustáquio moved the ball to Heung-min Son, who quickly threaded a pass into the center of the box for Martínez.
What followed was pure class. The Venezuelan struck with his left foot — a low, driven curl that slipped past St. Clair and into the far left corner. The crowd erupted. For a 19-year-old making his mark on the biggest stage in MLS, it was a moment that will be replayed all season long.
The goal was no fluke. Martínez timed his run to perfection and slotted home with confidence, capping a first half in which LAFC were utterly dominant — outshooting Inter Miami 10-3 in total shots and placing three attempts on target to Miami's one.
A Prodigy Living Up to the Hype
Tonight's display was a reminder of why LAFC moved heaven and earth to land Martínez — described by respected observers as the brightest young talent in the Venezuelan league — and why he arrived at the club as the most valuable signing in his home country's history. The youngster, who only turned 18 last year, has quickly become one of the most exciting forwards in the Western Conference.
It wasn't just the goal. Martínez terrorized Inter Miami's backline throughout his time on the pitch, nearly adding a second before the break when a Bouanga pass put him through on goal but his curler drifted just wide of the far post. Every time the ball found his feet, something dangerous was brewing.
Martínez was eventually replaced by Mathieu Choinière as LAFC looked to manage the tempo in the second half — but by then, the Venezuelan forward had already done enough damage to leave a permanent mark on Matchday 1.
Bouanga Seals It, Messi Is Silenced
With Inter Miami pushing desperately for an equalizer, LAFC responded in the cruellest fashion. Inter Miami's urgency backfired as LAFC struck again — St. Clair came rushing off his line, but Denis Bouanga rose highest, flicking a precise header over the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 2-0.
Son Heung-min, whose partnership with Martínez was the talking point of the night, registered two assists across the match — a stunning debut performance in Black and Gold. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, despite moments of individual brilliance — including a curling left-footed effort from outside the box that drifted just wide — could not unlock LAFC's disciplined defensive shape. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was left frustrated, isolated, and unable to prevent what became a thoroughly deserved defeat for the reigning champions.
A Statement of Intent for 2026
This result carries weight far beyond three points. LAFC had already kicked off 2026 with authority, thrashing Real España 6-1 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with Martínez among the scorers in that rout as well. The Black and Gold are firing on all cylinders from the very first game of the season.
For Martínez personally, tonight confirmed what scouts and coaches across South America and Europe have whispered for years — that this Venezuelan prodigy is no ordinary talent. He is the real deal: composed, clinical, instinctive, and completely unfazed by the biggest occasions. With Son Heung-min feeding him and Denis Bouanga alongside him, LAFC's attack looks capable of tearing apart any defense in the league.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, face serious questions heading into Week 2. Their title defense has begun with a humbling loss and a defensive display that will give every MLS side reason for encouragement. The pressure on Javier Mascherano's side to respond quickly is immense.
