Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup match against Leon, just hours after posting an emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi, and hinting at a potential retirement from football. Despite his presence, Inter Miami suffered a 3-2 defeat, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
Messi’s father, Jorge, passed away last week at the age of 68 following a long illness. Jorge had also served as his son’s agent throughout his career. Messi flew back to Florida from Argentina on Tuesday night after attending his father’s funeral on Sunday.
Emotional Return to Play
The Inter Miami captain entered the match at half-time, receiving a significant ovation from the crowd. His appearance came after he had missed the team’s previous loss to Monterrey on Saturday. Messi had made himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for the crucial group stage match.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Messi shared a heartfelt message on social media, expressing his profound grief and uncertainty about his future in the sport. He wrote, “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer.”
Teammates acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. Yannick Bright, who scored one of Miami’s goals, described Messi’s return as “incredible” and emphasised the team’s desire to support their captain. Bright stated, “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.”
Brazilian teammate Casemiro also praised Messi’s commitment, calling him “an example for all of us” for playing during such a challenging personal time. Leon coach Javier Gandolfi echoed these sentiments, remarking that Messi “demonstrated once more what he’s made of” and is “a human being that is different to the rest.”
Leagues Cup Exit
Inter Miami initially held a 1-0 lead in the match. However, two goals from Colombian player Daniel Arcila helped Leon secure a comeback victory. This result made Leon the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament, which features clubs from MLS and LigaMx.
This elimination marks the first time Inter Miami has been knocked out in the opening phase of the Leagues Cup since its expansion in 2023. The club had previously lifted the trophy in 2023, shortly after Messi’s arrival, alongside Spanish players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
In 2025, Inter Miami reached the final of the competition but were defeated 3-0 by the Seattle Sounders. That match was notable for an altercation after the final whistle, which resulted in Miami forward Luis Suarez being suspended for the current edition of the tournament.
Reflecting on a Career
Messi’s tribute also touched upon his father’s constant presence throughout his career, from his early days at Barcelona. Jorge Messi had been a consistent figure, though he was absent from a major tournament for the first time during this summer’s World Cup.
Messi revealed that his father, despite his declining health, had encouraged him to play for Argentina in their attempt to defend their title. He wrote about waiting for his father’s messages after each match, which made him realise the gravity of the situation.
During the World Cup, where Argentina were beaten in the final by Spain, Messi had mentioned experiencing “difficult, complicated days” due to personal matters. He described pushing himself beyond his physical limits in the final, stating, “My legs couldn’t go on any more.”
Messi has earned 207 caps for Argentina since his debut in August 2005. He captained the team to World Cup victory in 2022, matching Diego Maradona’s achievement from 1986. He also broke the record for total World Cup goals, with his strike against Egypt in the last 16 being his 21st in the tournament and his 125th for Argentina overall. His World Cup tally was later surpassed by Kylian Mbappé of France in the third-place playoff.
His impressive list of honours includes 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and eight Ballons d’Or, in addition to the World Cup triumph in Qatar. Messi concluded his tribute by promising to honour his father’s memory through the upbringing of his own children.
Source: aljazeera.com