Messi had missed a Feb. 4 preseason win in Hong Kong because of nagging injuries. He stayed on the bench for the entire game with a groin injury as fans booed and demanded refunds.

Messi checked out of the game Thursday with Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez in the 60th minute. That’s when a young fan sprinted onto the field with his arms stretched toward Messi before being intercepted by security.

Martino said Messi felt fine after Thursday’s match and is confident that he is recovering well as he ramps up for the start of the regular season.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) comes under pressure from Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Julian Fernandez, left, during the first half of a friendly soccer match, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Shanyder Borgelin put Inter Miami ahead 1-0 with a header in the 64th minute, and Newell’s Franco Díaz tied it in the 83rd minute.

Messi’s first MLS preseason was messy. Inter Miami set off on a global tour of exhibition games aimed at promotion and marketing, featuring Messi and the Uruguayan star Suárez. But the tour received mostly bad PR, as well as not-so-great results on the field.

Inter Miami was outscored 12-7 in its first five games before a win in Hong Kong. That victory was highly overshadowed by angry fans when neither Messi nor Suárez took the field.

“We understand the disappointment of the fans for the absence of Leo (Messi) and Luis Suarez,” Martino said after that game. “We understand a lot of fans are very disappointed and we ask for their forgiveness. We wish we could have sent Leo and Luis on for at least a while but the risk was too big.”

Borgelin, the 22-year-old whose booming header came less than five minutes after he subbed into the game, said he felt the tough preseason made the team stronger and more prepared to attack an upcoming season that will be filled with high expectations.

“Obviously it’s expected when you have the greatest player in the world,” he said. “I think we’re all ready and we’re all called up to a big task. We’re all on the field for a reason. And it’s part of the game, the losses, everything that comes with it.”

Inter Miami will host Real Salt Lake on Feb. 21 in its regular-season opener.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, top left, jumps for a header over Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Rodrigo Fernandez Cedres, bottom left, during the second half of a friendly soccer match, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) vies with Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Julian Fernandez (22) and forward Ignacio Ramirez (99) during the first half of a friendly soccer match Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) takes a free kick against Newell’s Old Boys during the first half of a friendly soccer match Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) comes under pressure from Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Julian Fernandez, left, during the first half of a friendly soccer match, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Franco Diaz, left, scores past Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, third from left, and Inter Miami defender Noah Allen, second from left, during the second half of a friendly soccer match, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Inter Miami forward Shanyder Borgelin, top center,heads the ball for a goal past Newell’s Old Boys goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos, front right, and defender Leonel Vangioni, bottom center, during the second half of a friendly soccer match, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.