Lionel Messi was briefly tackled to the ground by a pitch invader and a security guard in a midweek, early-season friendly on Thursday evening in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Inter Miami were fulfilling a make-up date for a postponed friendly against Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, originally slated for 13 February. The initial date was scrapped after Messi had felt discomfort in his hamstring during the preceding tune-up exhibition at Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC. Inter Miami cited coordination with “the event promoter and the government of Puerto Rico” in determining the makeup date of 26 February – five days after Miami opened the 2026 MLS season in Los Angeles, losing 3-0 to Son Heung-min’s LAFC.
Miami will resume the young MLS regular season less than 72 hours after Thursday’s friendly, paying a visit to intra-state rival Orlando City on Sunday evening.
The match itself was a curious spectacle for reasons other than the odd timing. Kickoff was delayed a full hour, per reports on the ground, due to issues with uniforms; ultimately, both Independiente del Valle and Miami wore majority-black kits, making the teams difficult to tell apart from a distance.
In front of a sold-out crowd of 12,500 at the Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, Miami coach Javier Mascherano began the match with a lineup mostly composed of players who didn’t start the season opener in Los Angeles, but assured the media before the match that his entire squad could feature. Messi entered at half-time, ultimately scoring a penalty kick in a 2-1 win.
In the 88th minute, fans rushed on to the field from behind Miami’s goal, with one pitch invader running past Rodrigo De Paul before converging towards Messi. A security worker forced the fan to run past the Argentinian, but two more young fans (one in a Barcelona shirt, the other a Miami jersey) followed suit asking for a selfie and an autograph.
Eventually, the now-shirtless initial invader outran the security guard and hooked back towards Messi, wrapping his arms around his waist. The security guard then tackled the fan to the ground, taking Messi down with him inside the center circle. A bemused Messi quickly rose to his feet, walking away unscathed.
None of his Miami teammates came to intervene on their captain’s behalf during the chaotic sequence and its aftermath. Eventually, an opposing player (Carlos González, a Paraguayan striker) approached Messi and wrapped his arm around him as security and the officiating crew sorted through another smattering of onrushing fans.
Like Miami, Independiente also opened their campaign last weekend, winning 2-0 in LigaPro against Guayaquil City. They resume competitive play on Monday, away at Manta FC.
