Messi return ends in heartbreak as Inter Miami are knocked out by Club Leon

Lionel Messi’s difficult period continued as Inter Miami were eliminated from the Leagues Cup after a 3-2 defeat by Club Leon on Thursday, just four days after the death of his father, Jorge.

The Argentina captain returned to action in the second half of the group-stage match but could not prevent Inter Miami from surrendering a lead and exiting the competition.

Inter Miami had made the stronger start and went into half-time 1-0 ahead, with Daniel Pintor scoring the opening goal. Messi was introduced at the beginning of the second half in place of Pintor.

The 39-year-old received a warm reception from the supporters, who gave him a special welcome during his first appearance since missing the previous match against Monterrey. Inter Miami lost that game 2-1.

However, Messi’s return was not enough to rescue his side as Club Leon turned the match around after the interval.

Daniel Arcia scored twice, in the 50th and 83rd minutes, while Juan Pablo Dominguez added Club Leon’s third goal in the 61st minute. The Mexican side held on to secure victory and send Inter Miami out of the Leagues Cup at the group stage.

In an emotional moment during the match, Club Leon defender Johan Romana embraced Messi after closing him down. Romana lifted the Argentina forward before hugging him, producing a poignant scene amid the personal difficulties Messi has been experiencing.

The appearance came only four days after the death of Messi’s father, Jorge. Hours before kick-off, Messi posted a message on social media mourning his loss and describing how hard he was finding it to accept his death.

He also appeared to question how much longer he would continue playing football.

“Te amo, papa,” Messi wrote.

He added: “Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone. I’m not breaking down, or rather I don’t want to break down. It’s very difficult for me to imagine that I won’t see you again and that we won’t talk again. I know you were suffering, and that your passing may have been better this way, but you left far too soon. We still had so much to live through together.”

Messi also reflected on his father’s connection with his World Cup career, saying Jorge had been desperate to see him play in the most recent edition of the tournament.

“You were desperately asking me to play in the last World Cup, and a few days before it started, you became ill at that time,” Messi wrote.

“It was the first time you would not be there during a tournament, but Mum kept telling me that you would improve and that your condition would allow you to travel. I used to tell you that we would reach the final so that you could be there.”

The defeat represents Messi’s third major setback in 25 days. He had returned quickly to the Inter Miami squad after losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain on 19 July, before suffering the loss of his father.

He then came back to competitive football just four days after Jorge’s death, only to see Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup campaign end despite his second-half involvement.