- Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami after the death of his father Jorge Messi.
- The Argentina captain came on at half-time against Club León in the Leagues Cup.
- Messi recently said he is unsure whether he will continue playing football much longer.
- Inter Miami were eliminated from the Leagues Cup group stage after losing 3-2.
- Teammates and opponents praised Messi for returning during a difficult personal period.
Lionel Messi returned to the pitch for Inter Miami on Wednesday night after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, and shortly after publicly admitting he is uncertain about how much longer he will continue playing football.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain came on as a half-time substitute in Inter Miami’s 3-2 defeat to Club León in the final group-stage match of the Leagues Cup. His introduction was met with a standing ovation from supporters inside the stadium in Miami.
The appearance came only days after Messi travelled to Rosario, Argentina, to attend a private funeral following the death of his father at the age of 68 after a long illness.
Messi had missed Inter Miami’s previous Leagues Cup match against Monterrey, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. After returning from Argentina, he made himself available for selection for the must-win match against León.
The defeat meant Inter Miami were eliminated in the opening phase of the competition, the first time the club has failed to advance since the tournament was expanded in 2023, the same year Messi arrived in Major League Soccer and helped the club win the trophy.
Jorge Messi played a central role throughout his son’s career, acting as his agent since Messi was a teenager and remaining one of his closest advisers during his rise from Barcelona’s academy to World Cup glory with Argentina in 2022.
In a recent social media message written after his father’s death, Messi reflected on his future in football and admitted he does not know whether he will continue playing for much longer.
The message attracted global attention because it was one of the clearest indications yet that the Argentina star is seriously considering retirement as he approaches his 40th birthday.
Messi also revealed that his father had encouraged him to keep playing and try to appear at one more World Cup despite his declining health.
Teammates praise Messi’s commitment
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, who scored Miami’s second goal against León, said Messi’s decision to return during such a difficult period showed how much he cares about the team.
Bright said the players wanted to support their captain and give everything for him on the pitch.
“It shows how much he cares,” Bright said after the match. “When I saw he was here, I wanted to give my best for him.”
Club León coach Javier Gandolfi also spoke about Messi after the match, describing him as someone who continues to demonstrate exceptional character even during moments of personal grief.
Gandolfi said the Argentine star once again showed what he is made of by returning to competitive action so soon after his father’s funeral.
With their Leagues Cup campaign over, Inter Miami will now turn their attention back to Major League Soccer, where Messi remains central to the club’s hopes of competing for silverware.
The Argentine forward has continued to be one of the league’s biggest attractions since arriving in the United States in 2023, drawing record crowds and helping raise the global profile of MLS.
For now, however, the spotlight is less on trophies and more on Messi’s future, with fans around the world waiting to see whether one of football’s greatest players will continue beyond the current season.
