Overview
- Inter Miami beat Independiente del Valle 2-1 in Puerto Rico, with Lionel Messi entering after halftime and converting a penalty for the winner.
- In the 88th minute multiple spectators broke through barriers seeking selfies and autographs, and Messi briefly went to the turf during the scuffle.
- Security staff and bodyguards quickly shielded the 38-year-old, who was reported uninjured but visibly surprised.
- The match had earlier organizational problems, including roughly a one-hour kickoff delay and both teams wearing similar black kits.
- The chaotic finish has drawn scrutiny of crowd-control measures at Inter Miami’s exhibition stops, with reports recalling a comparable incident in India in December.