Lionel Messi returned to the field just a few days after the death of his father, Jorge, at a particularly emotional time for the Argentine superstar.
Messi was initially on the Inter Miami bench for the Leagues Cup match against León, having previously traveled to Argentina following the loss of his father, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 68.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Squad list for omonia match
Messi entered the game in the second half, replacing Daniel Pinter, who had opened the scoring for his team. His return, however, did not lead to a positive result.
Inter Miami held the lead in the first half, but León rallied after the break and staged a comeback, ultimately winning 3-2. As a result, Messi’s team was eliminated from the Leagues Cup.
The Argentine’s presence on the field, however, was a significant moment for his teammates, who were aware of the difficult times their captain has been going through.
In fact, Yannick Bright revealed that the Inter Miami players hadn’t expected to see Messi at the team’s facilities before the game.
“It’s incredible. I didn’t expect it, and it shows how much he cares. When I saw him here, all I could think about was giving 150% for him,” said the Inter Miami midfielder.
Messi had previously traveled to Rosario, where he attended a private memorial service for his father. For decades, Jorge was one of the most important figures in Messi’s life and career, having played a pivotal role in his journey from his earliest days to the pinnacle of world soccer.
MESSI, ON THE FIELD
El Capitán entered the game in the second half of the Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and León and earned a standing ovation from the crowd
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— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) August 13, 2026
*photo source: AP
