The stadium gave him a standing ovation! Messi returns after his father's death, but the match ends in disappointment
Messi stepped back onto the pitch during one of the most difficult moments of his life.
Details: Lionel Messi returned to Florida on Tuesday evening after attending the funeral of his father Jorge, and was named in Inter Miami's squad the very next day for their decisive Leagues Cup clash against Club León. The 39-year-old Argentine started the match on the bench and was brought on immediately after halftime.
Messi's appearance was the emotional highlight of the evening. The stands greeted the Inter Miami captain with a thunderous ovation, and even the opponents offered warm support to the Argentine after his family tragedy.
However, a triumphant comeback wasn’t in the cards for Leo. Inter Miami fell 2-3 to Club León and lost their chance to continue in the tournament. Before the match, the team needed a win to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
It’s worth noting that this marks Inter Miami’s first elimination at the opening stage of the Leagues Cup since the tournament expanded in 2023.
Reminder: Oh no! Messi announces impending retirement.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
