Messi Sparks Pure Magic Alongside Soccer Icon Before Inter Miami's Triumphant Victory
A legendary figure from World Cup history, Lionel Messi encountered another football great on Saturday, sharing some ball work with Colombia's René Higuita before Inter Miami's second preseason fixture.
Higuita, the former Colombian shot-stopper, carved his name into football history with his famous scorpion kick clearance for Colombia during a 1995 exhibition against England at Wembley Stadium. This iconic moment became the centerpiece of his career highlights, during which he transformed the goalkeeper role while netting more than 40 goals with spectacular flair.
Un encuentro muy especial 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TErrIgQVif
Though Messi's remarkable achievements differ from those of a goalkeeper like Higuita, both players share legendary status as South American icons and dynamic talents that global football will long remember.
The brief interaction and ball exchanges between the pair, featuring Higuita's signature scorpion kick demonstration, occurred before Miami's second preseason encounter of the 2026 campaign, where they defeated Colombian powerhouse Atlético Nacional 2–1 before an enthusiastic crowd in Medellín.
"It was truly amazing to meet the greatest in football history," Higuita remarked. "He's an alien."
How Messi Performed in Second 2026 Fixture
How Messi Performed in Second 2026 Fixture
Following a disappointing display in his opening 2026 appearance, a 3–0 preseason defeat to Peru's Alianza Lima, Messi showed greater impact in the victory over Nacional. His distance strike from outside the penalty area in the 55th minute struck the woodwork before veteran teammate Luis Suárez converted the rebound, stumbling and tumbling while scoring to level the match at 1–1.
Nacional had taken the lead in the 26th minute before the former Barcelona duo combined for the equalizer, setting up an Elkin Rivero own goal in the opening minute of added time that secured the 2–1 triumph for Inter Miami.
Messi completed his 85-minute appearance with three attempts, 55 ball contacts and 18 forward passes, in a contest where he controlled the tempo in possession for a Miami team clearly affected by preseason conditioning and elevation challenges.
هدف أول لميامي بعد مجهود كبير من الأسطورة 🐐 pic.twitter.com/L8y16tkXEy
"A challenging encounter," head coach Javier Mascherano commented after the game. "We anticipated difficulties due to our opponent's caliber and the 1,500-meter elevation—conditions we're unaccustomed to."
Beyond Messi's contribution, the match also featured the unofficial introduction of new Designated Player forward, Germán Berterame, who hadn't yet practiced with the squad but managed to create two opportunities after substituting in during the 59th minute.
Miami will now complete two additional preseason fixtures, concluding their three-game South American expedition against Ecuador's Barcelona SC on Feb. 7, before facing another Ecuadorian club, Independiente del Valle, in Messi's inaugural appearance in Puerto Rico on Feb. 13.
The Herons begin their official MLS regular season campaign on Feb. 21 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a matchup against LAFC, showcasing Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga.