Lionel Messi was held scoreless in 75 minutes of Inter Miami’s final preseason game Friday night against Orlando City in Tampa, Florida.
Still, fans inside Raymond James Stadium – home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers – were treated to a competitive matchup between in-state MLS rivals.
Fafà Picault scored the equalizer in extra time (90’+3’) to help Messi and Inter Miami escape with a 2-2 draw to finish the preseason with an unbeaten record.
Orlando City’s Martín Ojeda scored in the 15th minute. Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende scored in the 22nd minute on an assist from Luis Suarez to tie the match. And Ramiro Enrique scored in the 54th minute for Orlando before Inter Miami’s late score.
The match ended a busy week for Messi and Inter Miami, who are set to play two games in the next week.
Inter Miami plays its first-round matchup in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday against Sporting Kansas City, then begins the 2025 MLS season on Feb. 22 at home against New York City FC.
Messi attended Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans last Sunday, debuting a new ad with Apple and MLS Season Pass after the game. Inter Miami’s newest home jersey is available worldwide, and Messi’s drink has become the new hydration partner for Inter Miami this week.
Messi has scored two goals in five Inter Miami preseason games.
Messi scored a goal and had two assists in 62 minutes as Inter Miami beat Honduran giants Club Olimpia Deportivo 5-0 last Saturday in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Messi scored a header and played 66 minutes in the preseason opener against Mexican champions Club America in Las Vegas on Jan. 18. He played 72 minutes against Universitario in Peru on Jan. 29. Inter Miami won both games on penalty kicks.
Messi was also the catalyst behind two goals while playing 76 minutes in a 3-1 win against San Miguelito in Panama City last Sunday.
Messi, the Argentine World Cup champion and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, won MLS MVP last season after leading Inter Miami to the 2024 Supporters’ Shield title with the best regular-season in league history at 74 points. Inter Miami was ousted by Atlanta United in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs last year.
Fafà Picault goal: Inter Miami 2, Orlando City 2
Ramiro Enrique goal: Orlando City 2, Inter Miami 1
Tadeo Allende goal: Inter Miami 1, Orlando City 1
Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende scored in the 22nd minute on an assist from Luis Suarez to help tie the match early in the first half.
The goal is the second this preseason for Allende, the Argentine national in his first season with Inter Miami.
Martín Ojeda goal: Orlando City 1, Inter Miami 0
One No. 10 is on the board in Tampa, but it’s not Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.
Orlando City’s Martín Ojeda scored in the 15th minute to give his side the early 1-0 lead over Messi, Inter Miami.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Orlando City preseason game?
The match is available to live stream for free on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule
Here are the next three games Messi and Inter Miami will play:
Feb. 18: Sporting Kansas City vs. Inter Miami, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Feb. 22: Inter Miami vs. New York City FC, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2:30 p.m. (MLS regular season opener)
Feb. 25: Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City, Chase Stadium, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)