Lionel Messi has set ambitious goals for Inter Miami in 2026. He will look to guide the Herons to consecutive MLS Cup titles during a season that also sees them playing at their new Miami Freedom Park stadium.
Beyond club success, the bigger storyline may be Messi leading Argentina to back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles this summer, with the 2026 tournament taking place across North America.
Throughout the season, we’ll be tracking Messi’s performances game by game as the GOAT looks to deliver another unforgettable campaign.
Messi Shines Against Local Rivals
Nothing beats scoring twice against your in-state rivals—especially after falling behind by two goals.
Messi netted two second-half goals and provided an assist in Inter Miami’s 4-2 comeback win over Orlando City. These were his first goals of the 2026 MLS season and secured Miami’s opening victory. The second-half rally also included strikes from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia, who contributed two assists.
Marco Pasalic and Martín Ojedahad initially put Orlando City ahead, but Messi and Miami responded with relentless pressure after halftime. Messi’s second goal was a standout—a free-kick in the dying moments of the match in Orlando. Ever the showman, Messi playfully teased the Orlando fans by pretending to give them an autograph.
Feb. 26: Pitch Invader Incident in Puerto Rico Friendly
A preseason friendly against Ecuadorian side Independiente Del Valle at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón saw Messi score a penalty but also get knocked down by a pitch invader.
The match was originally scheduled for Feb. 13 but was postponed due to Messi’s hamstring injury. Miami honored the rescheduled fixture despite having already played their MLS opener.
Messi entered at halftime and received loud cheers whenever he touched the ball. His penalty in the 70th minute secured a 2-1 win. However, near the final whistle, an overzealous pitch invader collided with Messi and a security guard, bringing the superstar to the ground. Messi appeared unharmed, quickly getting up and walking away.
Historic Season Opener
Inter Miami kicked off their MLS season with a 3-0 win over LAFC, featuring Son Heung-min, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The match drew an announced crowd of 75,672, marking the second-highest attendance in MLS history and the largest ever for a season-opening game.
After the game, social media clips showed Messi following the referees into the tunnel and locker room. A visibly frustrated Messi was restrained by teammate Luis Suarez before both exited. MLS confirmed that Messi had not violated any league policy and would face no suspension.
