Messi Returns After Father's Death, Inter Miami Eliminated
The Argentine played 45 minutes in the 3-2 loss to Leon, while Mexican clubs dominated the second round of the competition
The Argentine played 45 minutes in the 3-2 loss to Leon, while Mexican clubs dominated the second round of the competition
Lionel Messi appeared on the pitch for the first time since the death of his father, Jorge, but his entrance was not enough to save Inter Miami from a shocking elimination from the Leagues Cup. The Florida side lost 3-2 to Mexican side Leon at the Nu Stadium in Miami, ending their run in the competition they won in 2023 and reached the final of last season. It was the first time Inter Miami had been eliminated in the initial stage of the competition since the Leagues Cup was expanded in 2023, when Messi arrived and lifted the trophy.
Inter Miami took the lead in the 42nd minute when Daniel Pinter scored from Ian Fray's assist. However, Leon completely turned the game around in the second half. Daniel Arcila first equalized in the 50th minute with his right foot from the center of the box, then beat goalkeeper Oscar García in the 83rd minute for his fourth goal of the tournament and the final 3-2. Juan Pablo Dominguez also scored for the Mexican team, while Yannick Bright netted for Inter Miami.
Messi came on at the start of the second half in place of Pinter and was greeted with a huge ovation from the fans. It was his first appearance since his father Jorge passed away on Saturday at the age of 68. Earlier on Wednesday, the Argentine footballer posted an emotional message on Instagram, writing: "I don't know what I'll do without you. I don't know how to move forward."
In the same post, he added: "Everything I've ever done was play football, and now I have serious doubts about whether I'll continue doing it for much longer." Jorge Messi played an important role in his son's career as an agent and the man who managed his business affairs. According to Goal.com, Messi did not train all week, but he arrived at the stadium and stated he was ready to play.
Messi's return surprised even his teammates. Midfielder Yannick Bright, who scored Inter Miami's second goal, said he did not expect to see the captain at the match. "I didn't expect that," Bright said. "It shows how much he cares. When I saw he was here, I only thought about giving 150 percent for him." He added that the situation is difficult and that the players are trying to stay close to Messi and support him as much as they can.
Leon coach Javier Gandolfi also spoke about the Argentine. "He is a human being who is different from the rest," Gandolfi said. "Today he showed once again what he is made of." Messi had previously missed Inter Miami's 2-1 loss to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup but made himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for the decisive match against Leon.
Jorge Messi had been his son's agent since he was 14 and followed him throughout his entire career, including the 2022 World Cup win. In his Instagram post, Messi wrote that his father, despite his declining health, encouraged him to play in one more World Cup. Argentina reached the final of this summer's tournament but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
While MLS teams disappointed, Mexican clubs shone in the second round. Leon topped the Liga MX club standings after two wins in their first two matches of the tournament. According to Goal.com, ten Liga MX teams have already been eliminated after the second round, but at the other end of the spectrum, Leon, Club America, and Cruz Azul have practically secured their places in the quarterfinals.
Monterrey beat Nashville 2-1 on Wednesday night with a goal from Hugo Cuypers in stoppage time of the second half, keeping their hopes alive for advancement. Charlotte FC, meanwhile, suffered a late collapse against Pachuca, when Alan Bautista scored the winning goal in the 91st minute after a defensive breakdown by Charlotte.
In the other part of Ohio, Columbus Crew drew 2-2 with Pumas after extra time and then won on penalties. Tarun Karumanchi gave Columbus the lead as early as the 9th minute, but Alvaro Angulo equalized just before halftime. Goalkeeper Nicolas Hagen played a key role in the shootout, saving Pumas' third penalty, while the Mexican players missed two of their attempts.
FC Cincinnati suffered a real collapse against Pachuca and Pumas. After winning the previous two matches by an aggregate score of 5-1, they took the lead on Tuesday with a goal from Evander just before halftime. However, in the 79th minute, goalkeeper Evan Louro spilled the ball and Folrian Monzon scored to level the match. Five minutes later, Louro made almost the identical mistake, and Cincinnati was left with no chance of a comfortable passage to the quarterfinals.
