MIAMI — Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Monterrey on Saturday after the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.
Photos showed Messi arriving by plane Saturday night in Rosario, where reports in Argentina said he will attend a private memorial service.
A minute’s silence was held ahead of kickoff at Miami’s Nu Stadium, with Jorge Messi’s name shown on screens inside the stadium. Miami players were also wearing black armbands.
In the 10th minute, the same number Messi has worn on his jersey, fans chanted and unveiled flags in support of the Miami captain, including one that read “Fuerza [stay strong] Leo.”
Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who captained the team Saturday, honored his club and international teammate after opening the scoring in the 32nd minute, when he took off his shirt to reveal a Messi No. 10 jersey.
Messi’s longtime friend and teammate Luis Suárez, who will miss Saturday’s game because of a suspension, also sent a message of support.
“Friend, I hug you and your family strongly,” he posted on Instagram. “Your dad, from above, will continue to watch you with pride like he did always. All my love in these difficult moments to the Messi Family. Rest in peace, Jorge.”
Miami paid its condolences earlier in the day, writing: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
Messi featured in Inter Miami’s first Leagues Cup match of the 2026 tournament, recording two goals and an assist in the 4-2 victory over Atlético de San Luis on Wednesday.
The Inter Miami captain recently led Argentina to the World Cup final while navigating the illness of his father. Messi cried after scoring the first of his three goals in Argentina’s World Cup match against Algeria before later explaining he wept for “a reason unrelated to sports.”
Jorge Messi played a fundamental role in his third son’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. He traveled with a young Messi to Barcelona in the early 2000s for the tryout that would open the doors to La Masia, the club’s youth academy.
Lionel Messi made his professional debut in 2005 and went on to win eight Ballon d’Or awards. He led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title.
“My dad was always by my side,” Lionel Messi said in a 2007 interview with Radio del Plata. “Sometimes, I would lock myself in my room to cry when we arrived in Barcelona, or my dad would do the same without me seeing him, or thinking I didn’t see him. We pretended we were both OK, but we weren’t.
“My dad even asked me what I wanted to do when we were feeling down, if I wanted to stay or go back, and I wanted to stay, and he stayed with me.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
