The former FC Barcelona trio of Messi, Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba combined to level for the Herons in the 34th minute. Alba sought out Suarez at the back post, and the legendary Uruguayan clipped a ball in front of goal, which Messi headed home.
That came just three minutes after the reigning LIGA MX champions broke the stalemate, with Henry Martín crashing the back post to tap in a pass from former LAFC winger Brian Rodríguez.
Messi’s goal was his first under new manager Javier Mascherano a year after posting 36 goal contributions (20g/16a) in just 19 matches en route to being named the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP.
Las Águilas regained their lead when Israel Reyes capitalized on a defensive miscue in the 53rd minute, but Tomás Avilés equalized at the death for Inter Miami, heading in a sublime corner kick by Julian Gressel.
The match would be decided by a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw, with recently-signed Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo making a pair of saves and 17-year-old homegrown Santi Morales scoring the decisive penalty as the Herons won the shootout, 3-2.
Inter Miami will next meet Universitario de Deportes in Peru during their five-match preseason tour. They’re preparing for the club’s 2025 MLS regular-season opener on Feb. 22 vs. New York City FC and their Concacaf Champions Cup return on Feb. 18 at Sporting Kansas City.
