MIAMI, United States — Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami on Wednesday following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, but the Argentina captain has raised fresh questions about his future in football.
The 39-year-old forward came on as a substitute at half-time during Inter Miami’s 3-2 defeat to Mexican side León in their final group-stage match of the Leagues Cup.
Messi had travelled to Argentina for his father’s private funeral on Sunday before returning to the United States to rejoin his club.
His appearance came days after he revealed that he was considering whether to continue playing football, saying he was “really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
Messi returns after family bereavement
He played a central role throughout his son’s career, becoming Messi’s agent when the future Argentina star was just 14 and remaining a key figure as he developed into one of football’s most decorated players.
Jorge was also alongside his son during some of the defining moments of his career, including Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.
Messi missed Inter Miami’s 2-1 defeat by Monterrey in the Leagues Cup on Saturday but made himself available for the crucial encounter with León.
His return was met with a huge reception from supporters at the stadium.
Inter Miami eliminated from Leagues Cup
Despite Messi’s return, Inter Miami suffered another defeat and were eliminated during the opening phase of the competition.
The result marks the first time Miami have failed to advance beyond the opening stage of the Leagues Cup since the tournament was expanded in 2023.
That was also the year Messi joined Inter Miami and inspired the club to its first Leagues Cup title.
The loss means the club’s campaign ended without a chance to defend the trophy.
Messi’s future remains uncertain
Messi’s return comes amid growing uncertainty over how much longer he intends to continue his playing career.
In an emotional message following his father’s death, the Argentina forward indicated that he was reflecting on his future and whether to remain involved in professional football.
His father’s influence was particularly significant throughout his career. Jorge managed Messi from his teenage years and remained closely involved in his professional life.
Messi has also previously spoken about his father’s encouragement to continue playing for Argentina despite his deteriorating health.
According to Messi, Jorge urged him to “play in one last World Cup” after Argentina reached the final of this summer’s tournament, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Teammates rally around Messi
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, who scored his team’s second goal against León, described Messi’s decision to return as remarkable given the circumstances.
“I wasn’t expecting it. It shows how much he cares. When I saw he was here, all I was thinking about was to give my 150% for him,” Bright said.
Bright said the team understood that Messi was going through a difficult period and wanted to support their captain.
“It’s a tough situation. We try to stay close to him and support him as much as we can, but it’s a lot,” he added.
León coach Javier Gandolfi also praised Messi’s decision to play so soon after his father’s funeral.
“He is human being that is different to the rest,” Gandolfi said.
“He added: “Today he demonstrated once more what he’s made of.”
For Messi, however, the emotional return to the pitch was overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding both his personal loss and his footballing future.
