
During a pre-season friendly in Puerto Rico, Inter Miami defeated Independiente del Valle 2-1, with Lionel Messi scoring a decisive penalty. The match faced disruptions including pitch invasions and a delayed start due to jersey confusion. In the final minutes, Messi was knocked down when a fan hugged him and a security guard intervened, but he escaped without injury and continued playing. The game was rescheduled from February 13 to 26 due to Messi's prior hamstring injury, reflecting the high local interest in his participation.
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