Lionel Messi has emerged unscathed from a chaotic pitch invasion incident where a security guard's clumsy intervention inadvertently dragged the football superstar to the turf. The alarming episode unfolded during Inter Miami's early-season friendly match against Independiente del Valle at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Puerto Rico.
Chaotic Moment in the 88th Minute
In the closing stages of the match, a shirtless pitch invader sprinted from behind the Miami goal directly toward Messi. The 38-year-old Argentine icon, who has faced countless overzealous admirers throughout his career, was grabbed from behind by the fan in a brief embrace.
The security response proved dangerously delayed, with a guard arriving several seconds after the initial contact. In a panicked attempt to separate the fan from Messi, the security official pulled both individuals to the ground, creating a tangled heap of three men on the pitch.
Messi's Reaction and Previous Interruptions
Messi managed to rise to his feet appearing visibly irritated but fortunately unharmed. This was not the first interruption of the evening, as two younger fans had previously invaded the pitch to take photographs with their hero before the shirtless individual joined the fray unexpectedly.
The match itself had already experienced significant peculiarities before this incident. The friendly was originally scheduled for February 13 but was postponed due to Messi nursing a tight hamstring that prevented him from playing. The rescheduled game occurred just five days after Inter Miami began their MLS season with a 3-0 defeat against Son Heung-min's LAFC.
Additional Match Oddities
In another bizarre twist, the match faced an approximately one-hour delay because of a kit clash. Both teams were wearing predominantly black kits, making differentiation difficult for players and spectators alike. Despite the confusion, no changes were made and the teams proceeded in their similar attire.
When play eventually commenced, the 12,500 spectators witnessed Messi convert a penalty in a 2-1 victory for Javier Mascherano's Inter Miami side. The match will be remembered as one of the more eventful friendly encounters in recent memory, combining sporting action with multiple unusual incidents.
Looking Ahead for Inter Miami
Thursday's chaotic friendly will be followed by a match against local rivals Orlando City on Sunday, giving the team just 72 hours to recover and prepare. Messi's ability to avoid injury during the security mishap proves crucial as Inter Miami continues their early-season preparations amid heightened fan attention and security challenges.
