Lionel Messi made an emotional return to the pitch for Inter Miami on Tuesday, coming on as a half-time substitute to a massive ovation just days after attending the funeral of his father, Jorge. Jorge Messi, who served as his son’s agent, passed away last week at the age of 68. In an honest social media post shared on Wednesday morning, the football icon expressed his grief and admitted to harboring serious doubts about his future in the sport, stating, "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."
Despite his personal turmoil, Messi made himself available for the crucial group stage match against Leon after missing the previous loss to Monterrey. Although Miami initially took a 1-0 lead, two goals from Colombian forward Daniel Arcila secured a comeback victory for Leon, making them the first team to advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament between MLS and LigaMx clubs. This result marks the first time Inter Miami has been eliminated in the opening phase since the Leagues Cup expanded in 2023.
Inter Miami teammates and coaching staff praised Messi’s dedication during this difficult period. Yannick Bright, who scored one of Miami’s goals, described the captain's return as "incredible," noting that the squad wanted to offer him as much support as possible. "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." Brazilian teammate Casemiro, who joined the club after the World Cup, added that Messi remains an example for the entire team.
Leon coach Javier Gandolfi also lauded the Argentine, remarking, "Today he demonstrated once more what he's made of. He is a human being that is different to the rest." The result continues a challenging period for the Florida franchise, which won the trophy in 2023 following Messi’s arrival alongside Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Miami reached the 2025 final but fell 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders in a match that resulted in a brawl and a subsequent suspension for Luis Suarez for the entirety of this year's tournament.
