Lionel Messi Tackled to the Ground by Fans During Wild Inter Miami Moment
Three fans stormed the field during Inter Miami’s friendly match against Independiente del Valle on Feb. 26, and one of them brought Lionel Messi to the ground.
The incident, during the 88th minute in Puerto Rico, fits a pattern that keeps intensifying. In-game fan interactions have happened often since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, as fans attempt to get close to one of the greatest soccer players of all time.
This time, though, the sequence of events was stranger than usual.
What Happened on the Pitch
Inter Miami won the match 2-1. Messi entered at halftime with other regular starters and scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute off a penalty shot.
With the match winding down near the 88th minute, three fans ran onto the pitch. The scene unfolded in layers.
One fan took his shirt off, fell down, and ran past Messi with security guards in full pursuit. The other two headed straight for Messi — one got his shirt signed, the other snapped a selfie.
Then the shirtless fan circled back. Just as Messi was finishing the signature, the fan came from behind and wrapped his arms around him for a hug.
Security guards finally caught up and tackled him, bringing both the fan and Messi to the ground.
Messi quickly got up and didn’t appear to be injured, but was visibly annoyed at what transpired.
A Match Already Fully of Oddities
The fan incident capped off a string of unusual events surrounding this matchup.
The game was delayed one hour because both clubs showed up with black uniforms, making it difficult to tell the two teams apart, according to USA Today. They proceeded to play in the uniforms regardless.
Before that, the match itself had already been rescheduled. It was originally set for Feb. 13 but was postponed after Messi suffered a hamstring strain during a Feb. 7 preseason contest against Barcelona SC.
Messi addressed the postponement directly in a video message to fans in Puerto Rico.
“Hi everyone, I wanted to send this message to the people of Puerto Rico and all the people that will be going to the training session and game,” Messi said, per ESPN. “To be honest, during the last game in Ecuador I concluded with a muscle strain, which is why I left the field early. So, together with the people of the organization and Inter Miami it was decided to suspend this game.”
“We hope it can be reprogrammed, and we can see each other. Visit you soon. Sending a hug to you all and thank you for all the love that you always give. I hope we can do it in the future, all the best.”
The virtual “hug” in that message wasn’t enough for the three fans that stormed the field. One of them got the in-person version.
Why the Field Invasions Keep Escalating
Since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, these in-game fan interactions have become a recurring feature of his matches. Fans calculate that the reward of a few seconds near Messi outweighs whatever consequences follow.
What makes the Puerto Rico incident different from previous rushes is the physical outcome. Security guards tackling a fan is expected. Security guards tackling a fan and bringing Messi himself to the ground is an escalation.
The timing compounded the problem.
Three fans running onto the pitch simultaneously creates a security challenge that a single intruder doesn’t. One fan draws security in one direction. The other two reach the player. The shirtless fan loops back for his hug while guards are occupied.
Whether coordinated or not, the effect was the same: Messi ended up on the ground.
Inter Miami will begin defense of its MLS title on Saturday when it kicks off the 2026 season against Orlando City at Inter&Co Stadium. Given the recurring nature of these fan encounters, how the club and MLS handle field security going forward will be a storyline worth tracking.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
