Inter Miami's preseason opener ended in a disappointing 3-0 loss to Alianza Lima in Lima. Lionel Messi played 63 minutes but couldn't prevent Miami from falling behind early, with veteran striker Paolo Guerrero netting twice in the first half.

The defeat exposed Miami's current transitional phase following the departure of key figures like Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. New signings including goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and defender Sergio Reguilón made their debuts, but defensive lapses proved costly.

Despite the setback, Miami has time to regroup before its next preseason match against Atlético Nacional in Medellin. The team's MLS campaign kicks off on Feb. 21 at LAFC, where they’ll aim to defend their title after last year’s historic success.