Lionel Messi Named to Bench for Leagues Cup Match Against Club Leon

Lionel Messi returned to the Inter Miami CF squad on Wednesday as a substitute for the Leagues Cup fixture at Nu Stadium.

Lionel Messi rejoined the Inter Miami CF squad on Wednesday as a substitute for the Leagues Cup match against Club Leon at Nu Stadium. The captain’s return follows the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away Saturday at the age of 68 in a hospital located in Rosario, Argentina. While Messi was away attending a private memorial service, Inter Miami suffered a defeat against Monterrey on Saturday. This followed a victory in the club's opening tournament fixture against Atletico San Luis. The Herons now seek to secure qualification for the Leagues Cup knockout round with their star playmaker available from the bench.

Details of Jorge Messi’s Passing in Rosario

Jorge Messi had been battling an unspecified illness during the recent World Cup, a tournament where Argentina reached the final but ultimately lost to Spain. Reports from Argentina indicate that Lionel Messi traveled by plane to Rosario on Saturday to attend funeral services. The Inter Miami captain recently utilized Instagram to describe the emotional toll of playing while his father’s health declined. Messi revealed that his father had encouraged him to participate in the international tournament despite being at his worst physical state just before the competition commenced.

During the World Cup, Messi’s mother provided updates suggesting Jorge might recover enough to travel, but he was unable to attend any matches in person. The player noted that he realized the severity of the situation when he stopped receiving expected messages from his father after each game. Messi expressed a desire to win the trophy to show his father one last time, but stated his legs had nothing left to give during the final. Despite the loss on penalties, Messi reflected on the fact that his father was right about his necessity to be present at the tournament.

Manager Guillermo Hoyos on Team Impact

Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos addressed the situation on Tuesday, describing the news as a source of great pain within the locker room. The coach noted that the impact of the loss has been deeply felt by the entire roster as they navigate the current competitive schedule. Hoyos refrained from providing a specific timeline for Messi’s competitive re-entry during his Tuesday press conference, though the player was ultimately cleared to join the substitutes for Wednesday's kickoff. The manager emphasized that such difficult experiences are hard to recover from and that the intensity of the grief has made it a challenging period for the organization.

Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup Standings

The Florida-based club enters the match against Club Leon looking to rebound from the weekend loss to Monterrey. Having already secured a win against Atletico San Luis, the team remains in contention for the knockout stages of the competition. Messi’s presence on the bench marks his first involvement with the team since the passing of his father. The captain will watch the opening whistle from the sidelines as Guillermo Hoyos manages the squad's rotation during this period of personal mourning for the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner. The match at Nu Stadium serves as the pivotal final group stage hurdle for Miami as they aim to advance in the tournament bracket.