Lionel Messi returned to the pitch as a second-half substitute in Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Léon on Friday, marking his first appearance since the death of his father.
Despite Messi's return, Inter Miami was defeated 3-2 by the Liga MX squad, which eliminated the Herons from the competition. The Leagues Cup format advanced only the top four clubs from Major League Soccer and the top four clubs from Liga MX to the quarterfinals.
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father and former agent, passed away last week at the age of 68. Following his father's death, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner posted an emotional tribute on Instagram. "I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to carry on. All I ever did was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer," Messi wrote.
Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, is in his third full season with Inter Miami. Through 15 matches in the 2026 MLS season, he has recorded 12 goals and seven assists.