and Inter Miami new man were once again blanked in the club's second preseason match vs. , though the pair showed glimpses of the deadly partnership they formed at .

At a rainy, sparsely-populated Cotton Bowl in Arlington, , Messi and Suarez played for roughly an hour as the hosts won 1-0 in front of just 32,211 fans in the 92,100-seat stadium. Miami drew its first preseason contest vs. El Salvador 0-0.

USA striker Jesus Ferreira opened the scoring less than three minutes in, as he lashed home a shot from about 12 yards out after being played in by Paul Arriola.

However, it was Miami who imposed its will for the rest of the half - even if that wasn't reflected on the scoresheet.

Messi nearly scored in the eighth minute with an audacious Olimpico attempt, forcing Dallas goalie Maarten Paes to retreat as an in-swinging corner kick nearly flew in.

Lionel Messi was unable to score vs. FC Dallas as Inter Miami played at the Cotton Bowl

Suarez also missed a chance in the first half after being teed up by Messi over the top

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner came close once again just four minutes later as Dallas gave away the ball near its goal.

Sergio Busquets found his former Barca teammate with an incisive through ball down the middle but Messi's low attempt was deflected by Paes and rolled out for a corner.

Before long, Suarez started to trouble the Dallas defense too.

Messi found David Ruiz with a beautiful diagonal ball inside the 15th minute, which the 19-year-old smartly pulled back for his new teammate Suarez.

But the Uruguyan scuffed his shot, which Paes easily caught. Ferreira soon went down with an injury but was able to walk off the field.

Right before halftime, Messi again played quarterback and dropped a pass to Suarez over the top, but his teammate volleyed wide as he stretched for the ball.

It was Suarez's second appearance for the club after debuting vs. El Salvador last week

Messi came close on several occasions but was thwarted by Dallas goalie Maarten Paes

Jesus Ferreira scored for Dallas in the third minute with a low attempt from inside the box

It was just an early tune-up in what will be a long, jet-setting preseason for Miami, but Messi was evidently taking it seriously as he appeared unhappy with Dallas' Sebastien Ibeagha at the break, with the World Cup winner seemingly speaking in the defender's direction.

Messi maintained the pressure on the Dallas goal in the next half, as he forced a parry from Paes after trying a half-volley from roughly 30 yards out.

Soon after, Suarez failed to latch onto a cross from Jordi Alba from the left, though the play was ultimately ruled offsides. Still, Suarez's effort on the play caused an MLS commentator to opine that he looked low on energy.

Messi was nearly played in by a Robert Taylor backheel shortly past the hour mark but the chance was sniffed out by Omar Gonzalez.

And Messi and Suarez made their departures immediately after in the 64th minute. 

Dallas nearly doubled its lead inside the 83rd minute, but a point-blank save from goalie Drake Callender ensured the game finished 1-0.

After beginning its preseason in the Americas vs. El Salvador and FC Dallas, Inter Miami will now jet off to Saudi Arabia for the next leg of its preparations.

The Herons will face Al-Hilal on January 29 before playing Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr on February 1.