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Messi was tackled by a pitch invader but was unharmed, finishing the match as Miami defeated Independiente del Valle 2-1 in a pre-season friendly.
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Luis Suarez assisted Santi Morales for the first goal, with Independiente equalizing through Patrik Mercado before Messi scored the winning penalty in the 70th minute.
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The kick-off was delayed due to jersey confusion, and several pitch invaders interrupted the game.
Lionel Messi avoided injury as the Major League Soccer (MLS) champions triumphed over Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle with a score of 2-1 in a tumultuous pre-season friendly match at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on Thursday (February 26, 2026).
This match was initially set for February 13 but was postponed due to Messi’s hamstring injury from Miami’s earlier match against another Ecuadorian team, Barcelona SC.
The Herons had already started their MLS season with a 0-3 defeat to Son Heung-min’s Los Angeles FC, and still proceeded to honor their commitment for the friendly against the two-time Ecuadorian champions.
Messi came on in the second half and scored the crucial penalty in the 70th minute. Uruguayan star Luis Suarez set up 19-year-old Santi Morales for the opener in the 16th minute, but Independiente quickly equalized through Patrik Mercado two minutes later.
Bayamon Chaos: Delayed Start, Messi Tackled by Fan
The match kick-off was postponed by an hour due to confusion over the team’s jersey colors. Consequently, both teams wore black, making it tough for the fans to identify the players.
In the final minutes, a few pitch invaders ran onto the field to approach Messi. During the commotion, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was knocked down by one of the invaders and a security guard trying to protect him.
Fortunately, the 38-year-old was unharmed and continued with the match after a short break.