Messi Faces Rough Tackle in Inter Miami’s Preseason Victory

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Inter Miami continued its perfect preseason run with a 3-1 victory over Sporting San Miguelito on Sunday, but the match was marred by a rough tackle on star player Lionel Messi. The incident occurred when Panamanian defender Aymar Cundumí delivered a harsh challenge on Messi, resulting in a red card for Cundumí.

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano expressed concern over the tackle during a press conference on Tuesday. “It was more concerning than surprising because it was a game that had no prior rough play,” Mascherano said. “It’s a shame because people want to see Leo play, and such tackles risk injuring him.”

Mascherano acknowledged that physical play is part of the game but emphasized the importance of fair challenges. “We don’t want matches to feel like training sessions, but there’s a line between competitive play and unfair actions,” he added. “This was an isolated incident, and I don’t think it reflects the overall spirit of the games we’ve played in Panama, Peru, or Las Vegas.”

Cundumí, who was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, later apologized for his actions. “From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to everyone for my behavior,” the 20-year-old said. “I know there will be criticism, but I will hold my head high and learn from this.”

Inter Miami’s next preseason match is against Honduran club Olimpia, a team Mascherano respects for its recent domestic and regional successes. “Olimpia has achieved a lot under Pedro Troglio, and they will be a good test for us,” he said.

Inter Miami’s preseason campaign has been strong, with victories over Club América and Universitario. The team is using these matches to fine-tune its strategy and evaluate players ahead of the regular season.