Messi’s Stunning 2026 Debut: What His First Goal Against Barcelona SC Reveals About Inter Miami’s Future

Inter Miami’s preseason journey hit a high-note — but also a snag — in their latest outing in Guayaquil, where they locked horns with Barcelona SC and walked away with a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Lionel Messi, ever the magician, didn’t just show up to the party; he delivered a masterclass for 57 minutes, netting a goal and setting up German Berterame for another. The hosts, however, weren’t just spectators. Joao Rojas and Tomas Martinez made sure their voices were heard loud and clear, clawing back to shake the scoreline and keep things interesting. This match had the early fireworks, the tactical ebb and flow, and of course, that edge-of-your-seat intensity that only a clash featuring Messi can provide. Intrigued? Dive deeper here — LEARN MORE.

Inter Miami drew 2-2 in their third preseason friendly, facing Barcelona SC in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Lionel Messi played 57 minutes and was key for his team, scoring one goal and providing an assist to German Berterame. The hosts’ goals came from Joao Rojas and Tomas Martinez.

During the first half, Inter Miami dominated their opponents. They controlled possession smoothly and created the clearest chances, with opportunities falling to Mateo Silvetti, Micael, and Telasco Segovia. The opener arrived in the 30th minute, when Messi received the ball in the attacking half, advanced freely into the box, and finished with a brilliant left-footed strike.

However, Barcelona SC surprised their rivals in the final minutes of the first half with a header from Joao Rojas, who capitalized on a mistake by Dayne St Clair and connected perfectly on a corner kick. The hosts’ joy was short-lived, as German Berterame quickly restored Inter Miami’s lead with a left-footed shot that took a slight deflection off a defender, leaving the goalkeeper wrong-footed.

Those minutes proved to be the most exciting of the match, as the intensity dropped in the second half for both teams. Messi was substituted in the 57th minute for Luis Suarez, which further shifted the balance. Inter Miami could not hold on to their advantage, and Tomas Martinez scored the late equalizer to make it 2-2.