Messi, Suárez score as Inter Miami drop preseason friendly to Al Hilal

Jonathan Sigal

Inter Miami CF continued preseason preparations Monday at the Riyadh Season Cup, dropping a 4-3 decision to Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal.

The clash at Kingdom Arena preceded Thursday's highly-anticipated friendly between Inter Miami and Al Nassr (1 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), which will be the fourth of Inter Miami's seven tune-ups ahead of a Feb. 21 season opener vs. Real Salt Lake (8 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).

Inter Miami thought they earned a comeback result after Luis Suárez (34'), Lionel Messi (54') and David Ruíz (55') all got on the scoresheet. Suárez's goal, awarded after Video Review, was IMCF's first of the preseason before Messi deposited a penalty kick and Ruíz laced home a right-footed shot.

But Inter Miami's work-in-progress defense struggled to contain Al Hilal, allowing quickfire first-half goals to Aleksandar Mitrović (10') and Abdullah Al-Hamdan (13') before Michael (44') padded the scoreline. Eventually, the game-winner arrived from Malcom (88') via an open header.

Inter Miami: 2024 MLS preseason schedule

Goals

10' - HIL - Aleksandar Mitrović | WATCH
13' - HIL - Abdullah Al-Hamdan | WATCH
34' - MIA - Luis Suárez | WATCH
44' - HIL - Michael | WATCH
54' - MIA - Lionel Messi (PK) | WATCH
55' - MIA - David Ruíz | WATCH
88' - HIL - Malcom | WATCH

Lineups

HIL: Hbib Alwotayan - Renan Lodi, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Mohammed Jahfali, Yasser Alshahrani - Sergej Milinković-Savić, Ruben Neves - Michael, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Malcom - Aleksandar Mitrović
MIA: Drake Callender - Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Sergii Kryvtsov (Chris McVey 73'), Tomás Avilés, DeAndre Yedlin - David Ruíz (Gregore 76'), Sergio Busquets, Julian Gressel - Lionel Messi (Robert Taylor 88'), Luis Suárez (Leonardo Campana 76')

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Inter Miami remain in search of their first 2024 preseason win after previously drawing El Salvador (0-0) and losing to FC Dallas (2-1). Through that prism, there's space for Tata Martino’s side to grow and meet their sky-high expectations for the campaign ahead. Then again, preseason friendlies are more about getting tactics and lineups right rather than the final score.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: It wasn’t a game-winner, but getting Lionel Messi (and Luis Suárez just before him) off the mark in 2024 is a welcomed sight for IMCF fans.