Messi and Suarez on target but Inter Miami lose to Al Hilal in Riyadh Season Cup

An 88th-minute header from Brazilian forward Malcom settled an entertaining friendly at the Kingdom Arena 4-3 in the Saudi Pro League side's favour

Lionel Messi, left, of Inter Miami in action against Ruben Neves of Al Hilal during the Riyadh Season Cup 2024 match at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 29, 2024. EPA

Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez, left, congratulates teammate Lionel Messi after the latter converted a penalty to make it 3-2. Al Hilal went on to win the game 4-3. EPA

Al Hilal's Saudi defender Yasser Al Shahrani marks Inter Miami's Argentine forward Lionel Messi. AFP

Lionel Messi looks on during the friendly exhibition match between against Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. AFP

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi in action with Al Hilal's Yasser Al Shahrani. Reuters

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi slots home a penalty to reduce the arrears to 3-2 against Al Hilal. AFP

Inter Miami's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez runs with the ball. AFP

Inter Miami's Luis Suarez in action with Al Hilal's Habib Al Wotayan. Reuters

Inter Miami's Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets speaks with Brazilian match referee Edina Alves Batista during the friendly exhibition match against Al Hilal. AFP

David Ruiz, centre, of Inter Miami celebrates with teammates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, right, after scoring to make it 3-3. EPA

Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba controls the ball. Reuters

Inter Miami's Tomas Aviles tackles Malcom of Al Hilal. EPA

Lionel Messi of Inter Miami and Malcom of Al Hilal shake hands before the match. Getty

Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al Hilal battles for possession with Julian Gressel of Inter Miami. Getty

Abdullah Al Hamdan of Al Hilal, right, in action against Noah Allen of Inter Miami. EPA

Abdullah Al Hamddan of Al Hilal celebrates scoring his team's second goal. Getty

Michael Delgado of Al Hilal battles for possession with David Ruiz of Inter Miami. Getty

Michael Delgado of Al Hilal looks on. Getty

Lionel Messi was on target but finished on the losing side as his Inter Miami lost their first match in the Riyadh Season Cup to Al Hilal 4-3 on Monday.

The game was the latest leg of Miami's globe-trotting pre-season tour ahead of the start of the Major League Soccer season on February 21.

Messi will renew hostilities with his old adversary Cristiano Ronaldo when Miami take on Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

An 88th-minute header from Brazilian forward Malcom settled an entertaining friendly at the Kingdom Arena after Miami fought back to 3-3 from 3-1 down early in the second half.

Goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Abdullah Al Hamdan gave the Saudi Pro League side the early advantage but Miami gained a foothold in the game when former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez grabbed his first goal since signing for the club last month, applying the finishing touch to Julian Gressel's pass.

The goal was initially disallowed for offside but a VAR check overturned the offside call and the goal stood.

Al Hilal restored their two-goal advantage a minute before half time when Al Hamdan crossed into the area for Brazilian forward Michael to nod home after Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender rushed off his line.

Miami responded strongly after the break and drew level with two goals in two minutes soon after the restart.

Messi made it 3-2 from the penalty spot in the 54th minute after Mohammed Jahfali was harshly adjudged to have brought down David Ruiz in the area.

Al Hilal were still regrouping from the penalty when Miami levelled. Messi swept a long pass into the path of Ruiz, and the winger cut in from the left and uncorked a ferocious strike that made it 3-3.

The game seemed destined to end in a draw but Malcolm headed home two minutes from time to seal the win.

Following Thursday's match against Al Nassr, Miami move on to play games in Hong Kong and Japan.