Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi made a second-half cameo for U.S. Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in their 4-3 penalty shootout loss to J-League champions Vissel Kobe following a scoreless draw at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Wednesday.
The friendly was the final leg of a preseason tour for Miami that became mired in controversy after record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi was unable to play during an earlier stop in Hong Kong.
An adductor issue prevented the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker from taking the field Sunday against a select team of Hong Kong players, prompting fans from the city and elsewhere in China to vent online about what they perceived to be disrespectful behavior by the visiting club.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi (C) takes a shot against Vissel Kobe during the second half of a preseason match at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Feb. 7, 2024. (Kyodo)
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At a press conference on the eve of the match in Tokyo, Messi said he was unsure if he would be fit to play for Miami, who are part-owned by former England star David Beckham, and doubts remained after he was named on the bench by manager Gerardo Martino.
But the 36-year-old began warming up early in the second half and drew a roar from the crowd of 28,614, far below the stadium’s roughly 68,000 capacity, when he entered in the 60th minute.
He forced a save shortly after coming on and was cheered each time he touched the ball.
Adult tickets for the Tokyo match ranged from 10,000 yen ($68) to 200,000 yen, with “special experience” packages priced higher.
While Messi started on the bench, Miami’s starting lineup included former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba.
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In a first half that produced few chances for either side, the loudest cheers were heard when the big screens at each end showed Messi sitting on the sideline.
Busquets exited the game midway through the opening period after his late challenge on Yuya Osako resulted in him being inadvertently kicked in the leg by the Kobe striker.
Messi was not among the penalty takers for Miami, who missed their last three spot kicks.
Alba, who previously visited Japan with Barcelona, said the match had been valuable preparation for the MLS season kicking off later this month.
“The hospitality from everyone in Japan has been fantastic,” he said. “Our opponents today were a really good team. This was an opportunity to prepare really well for the upcoming season.”
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Kobe will be back at the National Stadium on Feb. 17 to face Emperor’s Cup winners Kawasaki Frontale in the traditional curtain-raiser to the Japanese domestic season, the Super Cup.
Related coverage:
Football: Messi uncertain to play against Vissel Kobe in Tokyo
Football: Japan’s well-traveled squad taste bitter pill at Asian Cup
Football: Iran eliminate Japan from Asian Cup last 8 on late penalty
ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.
“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.
“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”
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Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.
“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”
Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.
Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.
Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.
Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.
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Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.
Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.
Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.
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Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.
“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.
The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
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In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.
The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.
“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.
The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.
There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.
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Brett Knese
Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.
Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.
