Inter Miami CF secured a 2-1 victory over Independiente del Valle on Thursday night in Puerto Rico, with goals from Santiago Morales and Lionel Messi, wrapping up their preseason friendly tour.
The friendly match, originally set for February 13, was postponed due to Messi sustaining a hamstring injury in an earlier preseason game. Despite starting the MLS season with a 3-0 defeat against LAFC, the defending champions kept their commitment to play the rescheduled friendly.
Inter Miami, in collaboration with event organizers and the Puerto Rican government, decided to reschedule the game for a later date to accommodate all involved.
Prior to the postponement, Messi shared a message in a video addressed to fans in Puerto Rico, stating, “During the last game in Ecuador, I faced a muscle strain that caused me to leave the field early. Together with the organization and Inter Miami, it was decided to postpone this match. We hope it can be rescheduled so we can meet you all soon. Thank you for your love and support.”
The match was ultimately set for February 26, coinciding with the ongoing MLS regular season. Although Inter Miami was to face local rivals Orlando City SC just 72 hours later, head coach Javier Mascherano planned to utilize the entire squad against Independiente.
Mascherano expressed, “This match offers the chance to give minutes to players who have had less time on the field during preseason and the last match.” He initiated the game with players who had limited playtime against LAFC, including Luis Suárez, Rocco Ríos Novo, Morales, and Facundo Mura.
Messi made his entrance after halftime, joining regular starters such as Rodrigo de Paul and Telasco Segovia. New Designated Player Germán Berterame also participated in the match against Independiente del Valle.
Messi converted a penalty and received enthusiastic applause from the crowd with each touch of the ball. Towards the end of the match, some fans rushed onto the field, with two lucky individuals managing to snap a selfie with the World Cup champion before the conclusion of the game.