Lionel Messi rugby-tackled as pitch invader beats security to superstar in alarming incident

Supporters rushed the field for a chance to get close to Lionel Messi as Inter Miami played in Puerto Rico but one supporter got too close and latched on to the Argentina superstar

Lionel Messi was rugby-tackled to the ground after an overenthusiastic pitch invader managed to catch hold of the superstar during an Inter Miami match. The World Cup winner could not stay on his feet in the friendly on Thursday night as the fan wrapped their arms around him, before being tackled by a member of the security staff.

Inter Miami’s clash against Independiente del Valle, at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was disrupted in the 89th minute as a handful of fans raced onto the field. Messi signed the shirt of one fan, while another took a selfie with him.

But a shirtless pitch invader, who had already fallen but avoided capture, then ran to the ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star and latched onto him. A member of security tasked with clearing the field took the man to the ground and took Messi down with him.

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The MLS superstar fortunately escaped unhurt and was soon standing up. The match eventually continued with a couple of minutes of added time.

Messi, who came on in the 43rd minute, scored on a penalty to hand Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over their Ecuadorian opponents.

The invasion was not the first drama of the night after kick-off was reportedly delayed for a full hour. It is said that a kit clash, with Independiente del Valle and Miami still eventually wearing majority-black kits, made the teams difficult to tell apart.

The friendly took place just days after Inter Miami’s season-opening MLS match. Messi’s side lost to LAFC last weekend and return to action again Sunday for a trip to face Florida rivals Orlando City.

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The match was originally scheduled to take place during pre-season. A clash arranged for February 13 was scrapped after Messi, as the primary draw, felt discomfort in his hamstring.

“Hi everyone, I wanted to send this message to the people of Puerto Rico and all the people that will be going to the training session and game,” Messi said in a video prior to the match being postponed.

“To be honest, during the last game in Ecuador I concluded with a muscle strain, which is why I left the field early. So, together with the people of the organisation and Inter Miami it was decided to suspend this game.

“We hope it can be reprogrammed, and we can see each other. Visit you soon. Sending a hug to you all and thank you for all the love that you always give. I hope we can do it in the future, all the best.”

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