Lionel Messi is preparing for a thrilling 2026 season with Inter Miami, setting his sights on consecutive MLS Cup titles. The team will be playing at their new Miami Freedom Park stadium, which adds another layer of excitement to the upcoming campaign. However, the bigger challenge for Messi may lie with his national team, as he aims to lead Argentina to a second consecutive FIFA World Cup title during the summer’s tournament in North America.
Messi's Stunning Comeback Performance Against Orlando City
March 1 marked a spectacular performance by Messi in Inter Miami’s 4-2 comeback win over Orlando City. Despite being down 2-0 initially, Messi scored two goals and provided an assist in the second half, marking his first goals of the 2026 MLS season. The Herons made a strong comeback with a four-goal rally, including contributions from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia. Messi’s second goal was a standout, a free-kick in the dying moments of the match in Orlando. As a gesture of gamesmanship, Messi cheekily gave the Orlando fans a mock autograph after the win.
Messi trolling the Orlando fans after scoring two and assisting another 😂
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 2, 2026
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/q3n4MbtcgG
A Chaotic Friendly in Puerto Rico
On February 26, Messi featured in a friendly match between Inter Miami and Ecuadorian club Independiente Del Valle in Puerto Rico. The game was rescheduled after Messi's hamstring injury, initially set for February 13. Messi entered at halftime, receiving a warm reception from the crowd. He scored a penalty in the 70th minute, sealing a 2-1 victory for Miami. However, as the match concluded, a pitch invader managed to tackle Messi, causing a brief moment of chaos before he was helped up by a security guard. Messi appeared unscathed as he walked away from the incident.
😳 Down goes Lionel Messi!
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) February 27, 2026
🎥 Here’s the clip of Messi being brought down by the pitch invader who was tackled by security in the final minutes of Inter Miami’s 2-1 (preseason) win vs Independiente Del Valle.#InterMiamiCF #Messi𓃵pic.twitter.com/3LmblzplSh
LAFC Ends Inter Miami's Perfect Start
Inter Miami’s season opener on February 21 did not go as planned, as Messi and his teammates suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of LAFC. The match took place in front of a record-breaking crowd of 75,672 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Messi was visibly upset after the game, and a video surfaced showing him following the referees into the tunnel. He appeared angry, with teammate Luis Suarez stepping in to calm him down. Despite the frustration, the league confirmed that Messi had not violated any policies and would not face suspension for his actions.
Lionel Messi salió molesto con el arbitraje tras la goleada de LAFC 3-0 ante Inter de Miami. #messi #intermiami pic.twitter.com/NiOlzYVKrW
— Giovanni Guerrero (@gioxguerrero) February 22, 2026
As Messi prepares for a busy year with both Inter Miami and Argentina, all eyes will be on his performance as he looks to add more trophies to his illustrious career.
