In the thin air of Quito and under the glare of a packed Estadio Banco Pichincha, Lionel Messi needed only a sliver of space to remind everyone why his name still bends games to his will.

The Inter Miami captain produced a vintage solo golazo and an assist in a 2-2 preseason draw against Ecuadorian giants Barcelona SC, turning a routine friendly into a showcase of enduring brilliance and new beginnings for the MLS Cup holders.

Messi opened the scoring with a move that felt ripped from his prime years in Europe. Dropping deep to collect the ball, he accelerated through midfield, gliding past challenges as Barcelona’s defensive line backpedaled. Near the edge of the penalty area, he shifted the ball onto his left foot, slipped between two defenders and drilled a low, precise shot beyond the goalkeeper. It was his first goal of 2026 and a reminder that even at 38, his change of pace and balance remain devastating.

Barcelona SC briefly hit back through Joao Rojas, who capitalized on a rare lapse in Miami’s back line to level the match. But Messi again tilted the contest in Miami’s favor in first-half stoppage time, this time as creator.

Spotting new signing Germán Berterame peeling into space on the far side, Messi launched a perfectly weighted cross-field pass that dropped onto the Mexican forward’s path at the edge of the box. Berterame’s shot took a deflection on its way in, but the move bore Messi’s signature vision and timing. For Berterame, a $15 million arrival from Monterrey, it was a dream first start in Miami colors and an early sign of chemistry with his illustrious teammate.

Messi made way for close friend and fellow star Luis Suárez just past the hour mark, with Miami seemingly in control and headed for a morale-boosting win on their South American tour.

Instead, the closing minutes unraveled. Substitute David Ayala was sent off in the 87th minute for a late challenge, inviting pressure from the home side. Barcelona SC seized the momentum almost immediately, Tomás Martínez pouncing from close range to force a draw and ignite the crowd.

The result leaves Inter Miami with one win from three matches on the tour, following a defeat to Alianza Lima and a victory over Atlético Nacional. Coach Javier Mascherano’s team will complete its preseason against Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico before turning fully toward the defense of its MLS crown, buoyed by the evidence that Messi’s influence remains as sharp as ever.