Medellín, Colombia, marked the second stop of Inter Miami’s “Champions Tour,” and the reception was nothing short of rock-star treatment. Lionel Messi, the unquestioned headliner, was at the center of the frenzy. A packed Atanasio Girardot Stadium watched Messi lead the Herons to a 2–1 victory over Atlético Nacional, with goals coming from Luis Suárez and an own goal by the Colombian side. Still, the match itself felt secondary to the spectacle that unfolded across the city during Messi and Inter Miami’s visit.
The Herons win 2-1 in Medellin.. Some improvement from the last match but not anything overly impressive, still a work in progress but trending in the right direction..#InterMiamiCF #MLS #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/yFYMDJj3QG
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) February 1, 2026
Messi Mania In Medellín
Lionel Messi moves the masses wherever he goes, and Medellín was no exception. Fans flooded the streets for a glimpse of the GOAT, and the entrance to the team hotel was standing-room-only.
The “Champions Tour” continues in Medellin for #InterMiamiCF where #Messi GOAT 🐐 is received like a king ..Anywhere he goes Lionel is beloved & causes a commotion among the locals.#MLS #MLSes #Lemoncitylive @joacosaavedraq
pic.twitter.com/1Tj4AF6Pfk— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 31, 2026
After his performance, Messi exited to a rousing ovation, with even Atlético Nacional players eager for a moment with the GOAT. More than a series of preseason matches, the tour represents a major branding opportunity for Inter Miami CF and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many fans seeing Messi in person.
No sólo lo ovaciona todo el estadio, si no que sus rivales se le acercan para saludarlo antes de que deje la cancha.
Único.
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) February 1, 2026
A Star Is Born
Lionel Messi was the main attraction in Medellín, but Atlético Nacional’s Juan Manuel Rengifo stole the show with a brilliant performance and a fantastic goal in the match. The young midfielder caught the eye of Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, and I’m sure of many other teams also. Rengifo has a bright future ahead of him with his great technical ability and his high work rate. Love to see him one day in the Rosa Negro.
El GOLAZO DEL VERDE DE Antioquia anotado por Juan Manuel Rengifo en el #ElPartidoDeLaHistoria captado por nuestra cámara en el sector 11 de Occidental Alta… pic.twitter.com/wTj5hq2k3c
— Nacional Es Pasión (@NacionalsPasion) February 1, 2026
Heron Debuts
Germán Berterame and Micael made their debuts for the Herons in Medellín. Berterame arrived fresh off international duty with the Mexican national team, while Micael had only recently finalized his paperwork. Both are expected to play significant roles for Inter Miami this season, and the belief within the club is that they will be difference-makers as regular starters.
Bandeja Paisa & perhaps some minutes in Medellin for Berterame..#InterMiamiCF #MLS #Lemoncitylive
pic.twitter.com/moawf7DHRa— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) January 31, 2026
Messi Faces Barcelona
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will face Barcelona SC of Guayaquil, Ecuador — not Spain — on Saturday, February 7, at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on the OneFootball app. Ecuador’s most popular club presents another stern test for Miami. While Messi is once again expected to command the spotlight, the focus remains on improved cohesion and, most importantly, avoiding injuries as the preseason continues.
⚽🔥 EL PARTIDO DE LA HISTORIA 🔥⚽
Lionel Messi vs Barcelona Sporting Club
Guayaquil será el epicentro del fútbol mundial 🌎📍 Estadio Banco Pichincha
🗓 7 de febrero de 2026
🏟 Inter Miami CF vs Barcelona SCNo es solo un partido: es espectáculo, es historia, es fútbol del… pic.twitter.com/gitYRMCVhf
— WQ Radio (@wq_radio) January 31, 2026
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