Messi pulled to ground by security after fan rush at chaotic Inter Miami friendly

Lionel Messi-mania swept through Puerto Rico before, during and after Inter Miami’s ill-timed friendly against Independiente del Valle on Thursday, which saw the Argentine superstar accidentally pulled to the ground by a security guard after fans tried to approach him on the field.

The game had originally been scheduled for February 13 as part of Inter Miami’s preseason tour, but was pushed back due to an injury suffered by Messi. As a result, The Herons had to play the friendly just three days before their second MLS fixture of the season, a derby against Orlando City. Not ideal timing, you might argue.

Messi makes a cautious return

Unwilling to take too many risks with Messi’s fitness, Javier Mascherano kept his compatriot on the bench until the start of the second half. The former Barcelona star appeared to rapturous applause and scored from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, securing a 2-1 win for the MLS team.

Chaos on the field

The most dramatic moment came shortly before the final whistle, when several fans invaded the field. While some young supporters appeared content with a selfie and an autograph, another shirtless individual raced up to Messi from behind and put his arms around him, just before being tackled to the ground by a security official.

Because the fan still had his arms locked around Messi, the Argentina captain also took a light tumble, though he emerged unscathed.

A farcical friendly

It was a chaotic end to a friendly that had been played in somewhat farcical fashion throughout. Independiente del Valle and Inter Miami wore near-identical colors for the entire 90 minutes, with the home team’s dark blue and black home jersey clashing with The Herons’ black away uniform.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.