Inter Miami Pay Emotional Tribute to Absent Lionel Messi After Father Jorge's Death

Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup on Saturday night, but the game felt almost beside the point. Lionel Messi missed the match after his father, Jorge Messi, passed away in Rosario, Argentina.

Jorge wasn’t just Lionel’s dad. He was his agent, too—the guy who steered him through those crucial early years. He was 68 and had been dealing with a long illness. After he died in a Rosario hospital, Messi left the team to be with his family. He arrived in Rosario for a private memorial, though nobody really knows when he’ll be back on the field.

Before the match started at Nu Stadium, everyone took a minute to honor Jorge. His name came up on the big screens. The Miami players wore black armbands. In the tenth minute—Messi’s number—fans lifted flags and banners that read “Fuerza Leo.” They wanted their captain to know they were behind him.

Then, in the 32nd minute, Inter Miami’s Rodrigo De Paul launched a beautiful long-range shot and scored. After he celebrated, he lifted his jersey and showed off Messi’s No. 10 underneath. It was his way of letting his friend know he was thinking of him.

Monterrey pushed back in the second half. Hugo Cuypers equalized, and then, in the 90th minute, Diego Rossi scored the winner, sealing Miami’s second straight loss in the group stage.

Luis Suarez couldn’t play because of a suspension, but he sent his support, saying Jorge would keep watching over Messi. Inter Miami also released a message—they’re hurting with their captain and his family.

Jorge Messi had kept his health battle private for years, even during last summer’s World Cup. Now, Inter Miami has to set its sights on one more group stage match against Leon, hoping to pull through to the knockout rounds.