Lionel Messi made an emotional return to action on Wednesday following his father’s death, though his presence could not prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated from the Leagues Cup in a 3-2 loss to Mexico’s Leon. The Miami captain flew back to Florida from Argentina on Tuesday night after attending the funeral of his father, Jorge, who passed away last week at the age of 68. Jorge had served as his son’s longtime agent.
Messi entered the match as a half-time substitute, receiving a massive ovation from the crowd. His return came just hours after he posted a poignant tribute to his father on social media, in which he openly questioned his future in the sport. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on,” Messi wrote. “I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer.”
On the field, Miami initially took a 1-0 lead, but the momentum shifted when Colombian forward Daniel Arcila netted two goals to fuel Leon’s comeback. This victory secured Leon’s spot as the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament, which features clubs from both MLS and LigaMx. Messi had made himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for the must-win final group match after missing the previous loss to Monterrey.
Teammates were visibly moved by the captain’s dedication. Yannick Bright, who scored one of Miami’s goals, described Messi’s return as “incredible,” noting that the squad was focused on supporting their leader. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Bright said. “It shows how much he cares. When I saw he was here, all I was thinking about was to give my 150 percent for him. We try to stay close to him and support him as much as we can, but it’s a lot.”
Brazilian teammate Casemiro, who joined the club following the World Cup, praised Messi as “an example for all of us” for his commitment to the team during such a profound personal tragedy. Leon coach Javier Gandolfi also offered his respect, stating, “Today he demonstrated once more what he’s made of. He is a human being that is different to the rest.”
The defeat marks a significant low for the franchise, as it is the first time Miami has been knocked out in the opening phase since the Leagues Cup expanded in 2023. Miami had previously lifted the trophy that year shortly after Messi arrived at the Florida franchise alongside Spanish stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
The club’s recent history in the competition has been turbulent. Miami reached the 2025 final but suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders. That match was marred by a post-match brawl that resulted in a tournament-wide suspension for Luis Suarez, leaving him sidelined for all of this year’s fixtures.
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