Lionel Messi was knocked to the ground by a pitch-invading fan during Inter Miami CF’s chaotic friendly against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico on February 26.
The fixture, originally scheduled for February 13, had been postponed after Messi experienced hamstring discomfort. The rearranged match took place in Bayamón as part of Inter Miami’s pre-season tour, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner featuring off the bench.
In the 88th minute, several supporters breached security and ran onto the pitch in an attempt to reach Messi. One fan grabbed him around the waist and brought him to the turf before stewards intervened. Despite the scare, the 38-year-old quickly returned to his feet and appeared unharmed.
The match itself was marked by further disruption, with kick-off delayed by an hour due to a kit clash after both sides initially lined up in black uniforms. Head coach Javier Mascherano fielded a rotated starting XI, and Messi entered at halftime before converting a penalty in a 2-1 victory for the Herons.
Inter Miami had travelled to Puerto Rico five days after opening their 2026 MLS campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles FC. They are set to return to domestic action against local rivals Orlando City SC less than 72 hours after the friendly.
Messi now shifts his focus back to MLS duties while also preparing for Argentina’s World Cup title defence later this year.
