Lionel Messi was briefly tackled to the ground by a pitch invader during a chaotic friendly match between Inter Miami and Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, on Thursday evening. The incident occurred in the 88th minute when a fan rushed onto the field, evaded security, and wrapped his arms around the Argentine star before being brought down by a security guard, taking Messi with him. Messi quickly rose to his feet, apparently unharmed.
The match, originally scheduled for 13 February, was postponed after Messi experienced hamstring discomfort during a preceding exhibition. The rescheduled fixture took place just five days after Inter Miami opened the 2026 MLS season with a 3-0 loss to LAFC. The friendly also saw a delayed kickoff due to issues with uniforms, with both teams wearing majority-black kits, making them difficult to distinguish.
Messi entered the match at half-time and scored a penalty in a 2-1 victory for Inter Miami. The pitch invasion saw several fans approach Messi, with the initial invader eventually encircling him. No Inter Miami teammates intervened, but Independiente del Valle striker Carlos González comforted Messi as security dealt with the situation. Inter Miami will resume MLS play on Sunday against Orlando City.
