Messi’s Return to Play
Lionel Messi made a substitute appearance for Inter Miami on Wednesday, shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi. His return to the field came during Miami’s 3-2 defeat by Leon in the final group game of the Leagues Cup. Messi entered the match at half-time, receiving a significant ovation from the crowd.
Jorge Messi passed away last week in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness. Messi had attended a private funeral in Argentina on Sunday before flying back to the United States on Tuesday night.
Despite the personal loss, Messi made himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for the crucial match against the Mexican side. He had been absent from Miami’s previous game, a 2-1 loss to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup on Saturday.
Emotional Social Media Post and Retirement Hint
On Wednesday morning, Messi shared an emotional tribute to his father on social media, where he also expressed uncertainty about his future in football. The 39-year-old Argentina forward indicated he was considering his career, stating he was “really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
In his post, Messi wrote, “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on.” He added, “I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer.”
Jorge Messi had served as his son’s agent since Messi was 14. He was by Messi’s side when Argentina captained his country to World Cup glory in 2022. Argentina reached the final of this summer’s tournament but were beaten 1-0 by Spain in extra time. Messi also mentioned that his father had urged him “to play in one last World Cup” despite his deteriorating health.
Team Reaction and Tournament Exit
Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, who scored his team’s second goal against Leon, described Messi’s return as “incredible.” Bright noted that he and his teammates were focused on supporting their captain during this difficult period. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Bright said, adding, “It shows how much he cares. When I saw he was here, all I was thinking about was to give my 150% for him.”
Bright further commented on the situation, stating, “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 teammate Casemiro, who joined Miami after the World Cup, called Messi “an example for all of us” for his commitment.
Leon coach Javier Gandolfi also praised Messi, remarking that he “is human being that is different to the rest.” Gandolfi added, “Today he demonstrated once more what he’s made of.”
Despite Messi’s appearance, Inter Miami’s 3-2 loss to Leon resulted in their elimination from the Leagues Cup. Miami had led 1-0 in the match before two goals from Colombian Daniel Arcila secured Leon’s comeback victory. This marks the first time Miami has been knocked out in the opening phase of the competition since the Leagues Cup expanded in 2023, the same year Messi joined the club and they lifted the trophy. Miami reached the 2025 final but were beaten 3-0 by the Seattle Sounders.
Source: bbc.com
