Lionel Messi made an emotional return for Inter Miami on Wednesday following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, but was unable to prevent the Major League Soccer side from crashing out of the Leagues Cup after a 3-2 defeat to Mexico’s Club Leon.
Messi had been absent from Miami’s previous match after travelling to Rosario, Argentina, following the passing of his father on Saturday at the age of 68. The Argentine superstar reportedly attended a private memorial service before returning to the United States.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was named among Inter Miami’s substitutes for the decisive group-stage clash at Nu Stadium and was introduced at halftime in place of Dániel Pintér.
Miami had gone into the break with a 1-0 advantage thanks to Pintér’s first-half goal, but Club Leon mounted a spirited comeback after the restart.
Daniel Arcila levelled for the Mexican side in the 50th minute before Yannick Bright restored Miami’s lead. However, Leon responded once again as Juan Domínguez found the equaliser to make it 2-2.
Arcila then struck his second goal of the match to complete the turnaround and secure a 3-2 victory for the Liga MX club.
The defeat brought Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup campaign to an end, with the club recording one win and two losses during the group stage. Club Leon advanced with a perfect record of three victories from three matches.
Messi’s return came amid a difficult personal period following the loss of his father, who had played a pivotal role throughout his football career.
After the match, Miami midfielder Yannick Bright praised the Argentine captain’s commitment to the team despite his bereavement.
“It’s incredible. I wasn’t expecting it and it shows how much he cares,” Bright said. “When I saw that he was here, all I thought about was giving 150% for him.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Messi paid tribute to his father in an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on Jorge Messi’s illness during Argentina’s journey to the 2026 World Cup final.
The Inter Miami captain revealed that his father had repeatedly encouraged him to continue playing despite his declining health, describing the challenge of balancing football with concerns about a loved one’s condition.
Inter Miami had reached the Leagues Cup final last year with Messi leading the charge but fell short against Seattle Sounders FC. This year’s campaign, however, ended at the group stage, marking an early exit for the tournament’s former finalists.
Despite the disappointing result, Messi’s return to action was viewed by teammates and supporters as a testament to his dedication during one of the most difficult moments of his personal life.
