In the last part of their South American preseason tour, Inter Miami had a dramatic 2-2 draw with Barcelona SC on February 7, 2026, at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The game was not only thrilling, energetic, and featured instances demonstrating why Inter Miami is a team to follow in the MLS this season.
Initially both the teams were attacking. Barcelo SC wanted to impress their fans and therefore continued to attack and attack, and in the process, they put the Inter Miami defense to the test. The visitors, who had just defeated Atletico Nacional 2-1 after losing to Alianza Lima 3-0, were bent on ensuring that they ended their visit successfully.
The superstar of the team, Lionel Messi, caused headlines again. Messi demonstrated his unique ability in the 32 nd minute. He has maneuvered through several defenders and crossed the ball low, which defeated the goalkeeper of Barcelona SC, Jose David Contreras. The crowd of 75,000 had gone mad with some applauding the brilliance of Messi, others being shocked by his performance. The performance of Messi further validated the reason why he is the first player in MLS to receive two consecutive MVPs.
The remaining part of the match was an equal opportunity on both sides. The new signings of Inter Miami proved to have potential, and they fit the team and provided opportunities. Barcelo SC reacted by being determined, as they equalised into a 2-2 draw. It was friendly, but the level and the intensity of the play indicated that both the teams were prepared to engage in a competitive action.
The South American tour of Inter Miami, as a whole, was a positive one. There was a strong team spirit of flair and attack as well as resilience.
