Lionel scored his first goals since suffering defeat in the World Cup final against Spain on July 19 in his second match back for Miami earlier this week, netting twice in the team’s 4-2 Leagues Cup win over Atletico de San Luis.
Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.
Messi arrived by plane Saturday night in Rosario, where reports in Argentina said he will attend a private memorial service. Messi’s MLS club held a minute of silence before Saturday’s match for Jorge, who also served as Lionel’s agent and business manager and confidant throughout his career and helped oversee his move from PSG to Miami in 2023. Miami players wore black armbands to honor their captain and his family.
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. But a late goal from Monterrey's Diego Rossi, following an earlier equalizer from Hugo Cuypers, gave the Mexican side the win to deal a major blow to Miami's hopes of making the Leagues Cup knockout phase.
Messi's longtime friend and teammate Luis Suárez, who missed Saturday's game because of a suspension, also sent a message of support ahead of kickoff. "Friend, I hug you and your family strongly," Suárez 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 canceled its postgame media availability, but Monterrey coach Matías Almeyda, a former Argentina international, began his news conference by sending his wishes to Messi's family. "I would like to start by offering my condolences to Messi's family for this loss, for the immense pain they must be feeling, and on behalf of my family and myself, I would like to extend my condolences," he said.