Lionel Messi watches on as Inter Miami crumbles to embarrassing 6-0 loss vs. Al-Nassr – without Cristiano Ronaldo – as Aymeric Laporte scores from his own HALF… and World Cup winner is forced to come on despite injury scare

Inter Miami suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat in Thursday’s preseason friendly against Al-Nassr after conceding three goals inside the first 12 minutes – including one from inside the opposition half.

With Lionel Messi watching on after suffering an injury scare, the MLS side fell 3-0 down in no time against the Saudi outfit – who was without Cristiano Ronaldo.

The embarrassing start to the game was epitomized by Al-Nassr’s third goal, scored by former Manchester City star Aymeric Laporte. 

The defender fired a free kick from well inside his own half, which flew over Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender as he scrambled back towards his goal. That made it 3-0.

The home side had earlier taken the lead on three minutes through Portuguese forward Otavio before Brazilian Talisca doubled the lead shortly after.

Jordi Alba (pictured), Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez all started for the MLS club on Thursday

Cristiano Ronaldo watched from the stands after being ruled out of the preseason friendly

Despite being without Messi, Miami still fielded a starting XI that included Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba. 

Tata Martino’s side looked to have stopped the early bleeding – the score was still 3-0 at half time – only for Al-Nassr to net three more after the break. 

Talisca added a fourth six minutes into the second half. Then, either side of Suarez and Alba being substituted, Al-Nassr completed the rout. First Mohammed Maran made it five before Talisca completed his hattrick with 17 minutes remaining.

Messi remained on the bench until the final six minutes. It’s claimed he had felt ‘discomfort’ after playing Al-Hilal and was forced to go for a scan. 

It came after long-time rival Ronaldo was ruled out of the friendly in Saudi Arabia, with the Portugal icon watching from the stands.

Miami are four matches into a gruelling preseason tour, which will see them travel 23,000 miles. Messi and Co still have games in Hong Kong and Japan to come before the new MLS season. The World Cup winner is expected to play at some point during the rest of the tour. 

Former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte scored from inside his own half

Brazilian midfielder Talisca was also on the scoresheet during the first half in Riyadh