Under the floodlights of Estadio Monumental in Lima, Lionel Messi relinquished Inter Miami’s captain’s armband, raising his hands in applause toward the fervent crowd that had packed the stadium to witness his artistry. The Argentine maestro, a beacon of global football, logged 72 minutes in Inter Miami’s preseason showdown in Peru on Wednesday night—though the goal eluded him.
Despite Messi being unusually quiet on the scoresheet, Inter Miami emerged victorious against Universitario, Peru’s reigning back-to-back champions, in a thrilling penalty shootout that sealed a 5-4 win after the match had ended goalless in regulation. Julian Gressel, Santi Morales, David Ruiz, Benjamin Cremaschi, and Yannick Bright all scored their penalties without flinching, while Universitario’s Jairo Vélez was the only one to miss, sending his team packing.
Although the game developed to be one of tactical endurance, its storyline was that of Messi everywhere. When he entered Peru, the whole country came alive like a religion pilgrimage. A local newspaper printed on its front page, in bold headlines: **”Dios está en Perú”**—”God is in Peru,” a huge testament to how much he commands awe. Scenes of pandemonium on city streets bore testament to the team bus of Inter Miami as it weaved through the sea of adoring fans with Messi waving out of the window at the euphoric throng.
On the field, Messi showed his usual form leading attacks and posing a constant threat up front. He had two chances to work his free-kick magic, but didn’t find the net. Universitario’s defense knew how dangerous he was and stuck to him like glue—often getting rough, which left him flat on his back. Messi tough as ever, complained to the refs but jumped right back into play, unfazed. Beyond how each player did, the game mattered most for checking Messi’s fitness—a key sign of how ready he is for a tough 2025 season.
The coming year looks jam-packed for Inter Miami. They’ll need to handle many tournaments, including the big-name FIFA Club World Cup, along with their MLS games. Their preseason matches, which pit them against the current champs from Mexico and Peru, serve as good practice for the tough games they’ll face in major events. So far, Inter Miami has proved it can stand strong on defense while making chances to score. Both of their preseason games have gone to penalty shootouts, which indicates that they will encounter on the grandest stages.
Inter Miami has shown its strength so far, with a solid defense and the ability to create scoring chances. Their two preseason games ended in penalty shootouts, which shows they can handle high-pressure situations. They played against LIGA MX powerhouse Club América in Las Vegas on January 18. Messi scored with a header, and Tomas Avilés tied the game late to send it to a shootout. Inter Miami won 2-2 (3-2) on penalties.
Javier Mascherano, Messi’s old Barcelona teammate, leads Inter Miami as the new head coach. The team keeps learning about itself. Their next challenge is in Panama City against Sporting San Miguelito on Sunday. After that, they’ll go to Honduras to play the tough Club Deportivo Olimpia on February 8.
Inter Miami faces a tough schedule with three games in 11 days, including their latest trip to Peru. This busy period gives them a taste of what to expect during the regular season. This challenging run will show how well their experienced players can handle the strain and adjust. The team relies on the famous Messi (37) and his old Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez (38), Sergio Busquets (36), and Jordi Alba.