It's getting Messi at Inter Miami...
Lionel Messi was at the center of a heated post-match confrontation on Wednesday night as Inter Miami were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park.
The Argentine superstar, who went scoreless in his first-ever match against the Bay Area club, appeared visibly frustrated after the final whistle and became involved in a tense exchange with referee Joe Dickerson.
Watch: Lionel Messi referee argument after draw against SJ Earthquakes
The argument escalated quickly, prompting Dickerson to issue a yellow card to Messi. Despite the caution, Messi returned to the referee moments later to continue airing his grievances, which prompted San Jose head coach Bruce Arena—himself a veteran figure in American soccer and former U.S. men’s national team manager—to intervene.
“He was obviously not happy and I wanted to make sure, really, that he did not get red carded...for him to get a red card at the end of the game would've been ridiculous,” Arena told reporters after the match.
The draw marks a second consecutive matchday of dropped points for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, with the club now winning just once in their last five matches across all competitions. The late-game drama and Messi’s unusually emotional reaction underline the growing pressure on the team as they navigate a turbulent stretch of the season.
Javier Mascherano’s squad trails fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with 22 points.