Lionel Messi was knocked to the ground as fans invaded the pitch during chaotic scenes at a match in Puerto Rico on Thursday.
Messi was playing for Inter Miami in a friendly against Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle when supporters raced onto the field in the game’s 88th minute.
While one fan demanded a selfie with the Argentine great and another asked for his shirt to be signed, a third rushed to embrace Messi from behind. A security guard tackled the fan, who dragged the World Cup winner to the floor.
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Messi did not appear to be injured in the incident, landing on the fan, before picking himself up and walking away in apparent frustration.
It capped a farcical night for a friendly that started an hour late due to a disagreement over which colors each team should wear.
The argument was seemingly never resolved, as both teams ended up playing in black.
A penalty kick by Messi gave Miami a 2-1 victory.
Messi, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half, scored the winning goal in the 70th minute.
Inter Miami had opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a goal from fellow Argentine Santi Morales.
Ecuadorian international Patrik Mercado leveled the score in the 17th minute. The friendly was originally scheduled for February 13 but was postponed due to a Messi injury.
Nearly 20,000 spectators in Bayamon, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a US territory, gave the Argentine idol a standing ovation when he finally entered the game.
An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Messi is expected to represent Argentina at a record sixth World Cup this summer.
He has not yet officially confirmed he will participate in the tournament, taking place across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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