Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez express visible frustration after Inter Miami’s controversial 1-0 loss to LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, following a disputed refereeing decision and a goal that ended their nine-match unbeaten streak.

Inter Miami’s long stretch of momentum came to a jarring halt in Los Angeles, and the aftermath said it all. A single goal. A controversial call. And two of football’s most iconic figures — Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez — walking off the pitch visibly enraged, muttering words that cut deeper than the final scoreline: “It’s always the same.”

For a team that had been riding a nine-match unbeaten streak and looking stronger each week, this 1-0 defeat to LAFC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals felt like more than just a loss. It felt like betrayal — not by themselves, but by a system they no longer trusted.

The flashpoint came early. In the 25th minute, LAFC’s young forward Nathan Ordaz appeared to lash out at Inter Miami defender Tomás Avilés in an off-the-ball incident.

It looked like a clear red card offense to the Inter Miami bench — and, apparently, to many watching around the world. VAR reviewed the play. The verdict? Yellow card.

Moments later, Ordaz scored the game’s only goal. That sequence of events turned what should have been a man advantage for Miami into a psychological blow they couldn’t recover from.

Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino and assistant Javier Mascherano were livid. “That’s a red card in China. That’s a red card on the Moon,” Mascherano said afterward.

His fury wasn’t performative. For a squad built with veterans of the highest pedigree — World Cup winners, Champions League icons — the standard they expect is not just competitive excellence, but fairness. And when that’s missing, the emotional toll is immediate.

Luis Suárez, one of the most feared strikers of his generation, didn’t hold back. As he walked off the pitch with his longtime friend and teammate Lionel Messi, he could be heard repeating, “It’s always the same.”

The implication was clear: this wasn’t the first time they felt the game had slipped away due to questionable officiating or inconsistent treatment. For fans of Inter Miami — and of Messi and Suárez in particular — it was a gut punch to watch legends like these feeling so powerless.

But frustration doesn’t erase momentum, and Suárez made that clear hours later. On social media, he posted a defiant message: “The defeat hurts, but we have the second leg at home with our people. Let’s go Inter Miami.”

For all the anger, there’s also belief. This team — top of the MLS Eastern Conference with 13 points from five matches — has the firepower and mentality to bounce back.

Still, the pressure is mounting. Suárez, who opened his Inter Miami scoring account with a brace against Orlando City, has now gone three matches without finding the net.

His physical presence remains undeniable, and he’s delivered two assists in recent games, but the goals have temporarily dried up. For a player whose career has been built on delivering in big moments, all eyes will be on him in the return leg.

Messi, meanwhile, has continued to orchestrate play with vision and grace, but the sense of frustration is starting to surface more visibly. The Argentine maestro has always been calm in the storm, but even he seemed rattled by the events in Los Angeles.

This isn’t just about winning matches anymore — it’s about the emotional weight that comes with being expected to elevate everything around you, even when the system feels stacked against you.

The defeat also comes at a delicate time for Inter Miami’s broader ambitions. The club has made it clear that 2024 is not just a season to compete — it’s a season to conquer.

With a roster stacked with stars, from Messi and Suárez to Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, anything short of silverware would be viewed as a missed opportunity. And the Champions Cup, with its international spotlight, was meant to be the stage to prove they could dominate beyond MLS.

Now, they must regroup. This Sunday’s MLS fixture against Toronto FC at Chase Stadium isn’t just another league match — it’s a psychological reset. A moment to reclaim control, regain confidence, and prepare for the crucial second leg against LAFC.

That match, at home, with their fans behind them, offers a chance for redemption. And if there’s one thing Messi and Suárez have shown time and time again, it’s that their fiercest performances often come after their quietest defeats.

The question now isn’t just whether Inter Miami can overturn a 1-0 deficit. It’s whether they can channel this frustration into a response that redefines their season. The margins are thin, but the hunger is undeniable. And with legends on their side, this story is far from over.