By Chalien Dantes

Football legend Lionel Messi walked away unharmed after a chaotic moment involving a pitch invader and a security guard during Inter Miami CF’s friendly match in Puerto Rico against Independiente del Valle.

Late in the game, a shirtless fan sprinted onto the field and grabbed Messi from behind, joining two other supporters who had already rushed over for photos. A security guard rushed in to intervene, but ended up dragging both the fan and Messi to the ground in the process. All three fell in a heap before Messi got back up, clearly annoyed but unhurt.

The incident added to an already unusual evening. The friendly had been postponed earlier in the month due to Messi dealing with a tight hamstring, and the kickoff was later delayed again because both teams wore similar dark kits. Despite the disruptions, Messi still delivered for the crowd, scoring from the penalty spot in front of 12,500 fans at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel as Inter Miami secured a 2–1 win.

The match came just days after Inter Miami opened their MLS campaign with a loss to Los Angeles FC, and the team is now preparing for a quick turnaround with a clash against local rivals Orlando City.