While LAFC is accustomed to playing under the bright lights of Los Angeles, it was Inter Miami that shone on this occasion, stealing the show with a 3-1 victory at BMO Stadium, where celebrities gathered to witness Lionel Messi in action.

Facundo Farias initiated the scoring in the 14th minute, and Messi played a pivotal role in the second-half goals by Jordi Alba and Leonardo Campana, securing a crucial three points for Inter Miami against the defending MLS champions on the road.

During the initial 45 minutes, it appeared that LAFC did everything except find the net, with Denis Bouanga repeatedly denied in front of goal, either by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender or his own erratic finishing. Farias' opening goal came as a surprise twist in the narrative, and at halftime, Steven Cherundolo's team might have felt their moment was approaching.

However, in the second half, Inter Miami gained more control, and Messi's brilliance came to the fore when he delivered a sensational pass to Alba to extend the lead. Messi then provided the assist for the third and final goal, scored by Campana in the 83rd minute.

This victory provides a significant boost for Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference standings, as they now have 25 points for the season, placing them in 14th place but just eight points behind the playoff cutoff. LAFC, on the other hand, drops to third place in the Western Conference, falling behind the Seattle Sounders but still holding games in hand.