Despite facing a lоꜱꜱ against the top-tier team Al-Hilal, the MLS team intensified their preparations for the upcoming season, with goals from Messi, along with new teammate Luis Suarez, among others. Despite the setback, Miami is actively gearing up for the new campaign, as highlighted by Messi in a down-to-earth social media post following the game.

The 36-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who netted his first goal of the pre-season campaign with a penalty in the 54th minute at Kingdom Arena, wrote on Instagram: “Seguimos preparándonos…” (“We continue to prepare…”).

Although this match resulted in a lоꜱꜱ, pre-season games often provide limited insight into the overall success of a campaign. Miami kιϲks off their MLS season on February 21, and Messi, having scored 11 goals in 14 games for the American team last season and contributed to their Leagues Cup victory, is determined to focus on a robust start in the upcoming season.

Miami persists in their pre-season readiness, facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Thursday, Hong Kong XI on February 4, and Vissel Kobe three days later. Their series of friendly matches concludes against Newell’s Old Boys on February 15, leading up to the commencement of their MLS campaign at home against Real Salt Lake a week later.