Los Angeles is a city of stars, so it was only fitting that Lionel Messi was back in the Inter Miami starting lineup for the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal game against LAFC late Wednesday night.

There have been some concerns over Messi’s fitness, and his usage by coach Javier Mascherano has been intermittent in recent weeks. He missed Argentina’s thumping victory over Brazil last week with a hip complaint. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was present in L.A. to watch Wednesday’s proceedings.

Lionel Messi wasted no time making an impact in his return with Inter Miami CF. Playing his first game in 13 days, the legendary No. 10 scored within minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute Saturday night, producing the game-winning goal as the Herons topped the Philadelphia Union, 2-1, at Chase Stadium.

As Concacaf Champions Cup advances to the quarterfinals, things are getting real as Los Angeles FC will host Inter Miami on Wednesday night. Both teams will have ambitions of winning this competition,

Yassine Cheuko, the bodyguard for Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, said Tuesday that MLS will no longer permit him to patrol the touchline during Messi's matches. Per Reuters (h/t ESPN), Cheuko discussed MLS' decision Tuesday,

Los Angeles FC kept Lionel Messi off the scoresheet in a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.

Nathan Ordaz scores in the 57th minute and LAFC contains the Argentine superstar in a 1-0 win. The second leg is next Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale.

Time: 11:30 p.m. ET LAFC and Inter Miami face off on Wednesday, Apr. 2 at 11:30 p.m. ET. The LAFC vs. Inter Miami CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals game will air on FS1.

Inter Miami is on the road vs. Los Angeles FC for the first of two Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matches. What to know.