Messi was subdued as Inter Miami suffered their first defeat of 2026

Inter Miami was defeated 0-3 by Alianza Lima (Peru) in the friendly match on January 25th, even with Messi in the starting lineup.

On the morning of January 25th, Inter Miami kicked off their Champions Tour friendly at Estadio Alejandro Villanueva (Lima, Peru) but endured a difficult 90 minutes, losing heavily 0-3 to the home side Alianza Lima.

From the early minutes, coach Javier Mascherano’s squad struggled against the aggressive and fast-paced style of the Peruvian team. Although Lionel Messi started, Inter Miami was dominated in play and failed to create many clear scoring chances.

On the other hand, Alianza Lima effectively exploited gaps in the visitors’ defense to launch continuous dangerous attacks. Defensive lapses cost Inter Miami dearly as the hosts scored three times to secure a comfortable lead.

After the break, Inter Miami pushed forward to find an equalizer, but their attacking combinations lacked sharpness. Messi remained a rare bright spot with some skillful plays, yet he was unable to break through Alianza Lima’s well-organized defense.

At the 63rd minute Messi was substituted after just over an hour of play. His withdrawal weakened Inter Miami’s offense further, while Alianza Lima maintained control and preserved their advantage.

Beyond the heavy loss, Inter Miami also faced bad news when new signing Sergio Reguilon suffered an injury and had to leave the field during the match, disrupting coach Mascherano’s personnel experimentation plans significantly.

Following the 0-3 defeat, Inter Miami will continue their tour with the next friendly on January 31st, facing Atlético Nacional at Estadio Atanasio Girardot (Medellín, Colombia).

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