LAFC made the Champions Cup finals in 2020 and 2023 and beat the Columbus Crew 4–2 on aggregate in the Round of 16 last month. Denis Bouanga, the MLS Golden Boot winner in 2023 and co-runner-up with Messi and Luis Suarez last season, scored three of L.A.’s four goals against the Crew.

Lionel Messi made an immediate impact for Inter Miami against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night. Messi returned to the lineup and scored less than two minutes after subbing into the match early in the second half.

The Union suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday, falling to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, 2-1, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Miami (5-0-1, 13 points) in the 23rd minute,