Lionel Messi avoided injury after being abruptly pulled down by a security guard who was attempting to remove a fan that had charged onto the field. The event occurred during Inter Miami‘s pre-season friendly against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico.
In the 88th minute of the match, a shirtless fan sprinted out from behind the Miami goal and lunged toward Messi. The 38-year-old football star is accustomed to extreme displays of admiration, but this fan grabbed him from behind unexpectedly. The moment quickly escalated as the security guard gave chase.
Security Attempt Leads to Messi Falling to the Ground
The fan held Messi for a few seconds before the security guard finally reached them, attempting to pull the intruder away. However, in the process, the guard accidentally brought Messi down with him, resulting in all three men collapsing onto the turf.
“Some crazy fan grabbed Messi and when the security guard tried to tackle him off Messi, he knocked him down too 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/N8Setop2fS”
Eventually, Messi managed to get back up, visibly irritated but thankfully unharmed by the chaotic encounter. Prior to this, two other young supporters had already entered the pitch to take photographs with Messi, making the sudden arrival of the shirtless fan even more surprising.
Unusual Game Details and Scheduling Challenges
The friendly itself took place under odd circumstances. Initially set for February 13, the match was postponed as Messi was sidelined with a tight hamstring and could not participate. This rearranged fixture came just days after Inter Miami lost their MLS season opener 3-0 to LAFC, led by Son Heung-min.
Following the friendly, Inter Miami prepared for a local derby against Orlando City, scheduled only 72 hours later. The match in Puerto Rico also experienced an hour-long delay before kickoff due to a kit clash, as both teams wore predominantly black uniforms. Despite the problem, the game proceeded without changing kits.
Eventful Match Ends with Messi Penalty Securing Victory
Fans at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel witnessed a lively match, attended by 12,500 spectators. Messi converted a penalty that helped Inter Miami to a narrow 2-1 win, adding to the memorable nature of this pre-season encounter. The team, managed by Javier Mascherano, recorded an important victory ahead of their MLS campaign.
Some crazy fan grabbed Messi and when the security guard tried to tackle him off Messi, he knocked him down too 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/N8Setop2fS
— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) February 27, 2026
