Grieving Messi returns to action as Miami crash out of Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi made an emotional return to action for Inter Miami on Wednesday, only hours after posting a tribute to his late father that raised doubts over how much longer he intends to keep playing, as his side were eliminated from the Leagues Cup with a 3-2 defeat by Mexico's Club Leon at Nu Stadium.
Messi's father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, died last week in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68. The Miami captain flew back to Argentina for the funeral on Sunday before returning to Florida on Tuesday night, making himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for the must-win final group game having missed Saturday's loss to Monterrey.
Earlier on Wednesday, Messi shared a tribute to his father on social media, reflecting on playing through this year's World Cup, where Argentina lost to Spain in the final, while his father was gravely ill. Messi admitted the loss had left him questioning his future in the game.
"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."
In the post, he also described the toll the tournament had taken on him privately: "You asked me to play in this last World Cup so many times and just before it started was when you were at your worst. It was the first time you were not at a tournament, but mum told me you would get better and you would be able to travel."
Named among the substitutes, Messi came on at half-time to a huge ovation with Miami leading 1-0, replacing Daniel Pinter, who had scored the opener. Leon hit back after the break, with Colombian forward Daniel Arcila scoring twice either side of a Yannick Bright equaliser and a Juan Dominguez leveller, sealing the win and knocking Miami out at the group stage for the first time since the Leagues Cup expanded in 2023.
The result leaves Miami with just one win from three group games and means their journey ends at the earliest possible stage, a sharp contrast to last year, when Messi led the club all the way to the final before losing to Seattle Sounders.
Bright, who scored one of Miami's goals, said the squad had not expected to see their captain back so soon. "I wasn't expecting it. It shows how much he cares," Bright said. "When I saw he was here, all I was thinking about was to give my 150 percent for him. It's a tough situation. We try to stay close to him and support him as much as we can, but it's a lot."
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who joined Miami after the World Cup, echoed the sentiment. "He sets a great example. After all, he is surely going through a very difficult time, but the commitment he has shown, not just to the players but to the club, has been incredible. I've never seen anything like it in my life. We have to say thank you, thank you for coming here, for helping us, and for helping the club."
Leon coach Javier Gandolfi paid tribute to Messi after the win. "Today he demonstrated once more what he's made of. He is a human being that is different to the rest."
Leon's victory made them the first side to secure a quarter-final spot in the competition between MLS and Liga MX clubs. Miami's early exit also comes with forward Luis Suarez suspended for this year's edition, following a brawl that marred last year's final defeat by Seattle.