Lionel Messi made a heartfelt return to Inter Miami following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away last week in Rosario, Argentina, at 68 after a prolonged illness.
The 39-year-old Argentine forward expressed uncertainty about his football future in a social media post, stating he was "really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer." After attending a private funeral in Argentina on Sunday, Messi flew back to the United States and entered the field at halftime during Miami's 3-2 loss to León in the Leagues Cup group stage.
Messi had missed Miami's 2-1 defeat to Monterrey the previous day but was available for the critical match against León. This defeat marked Inter Miami's first early exit from the Leagues Cup since the tournament's expansion in 2023, the year Messi joined and helped the team secure the trophy.
Jorge Messi was not only Lionel’s father but also his agent since he was 14, witnessing his rise to football stardom and supporting him through Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory. Despite his declining health, Jorge encouraged Messi to compete in one last World Cup, which Argentina reached the final of this summer before losing 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, who scored against León, described Messi’s return as "incredible" and emphasized the team’s commitment to supporting their captain during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, León coach Javier Gandolfi praised Messi’s resilience, saying, "He is a human being that is different to the rest. Today he demonstrated once more what he's made of."
