Lionel Messi reappears with Inter Miami after his father’s passing
In a moment of great emotional weight, Lionel Messi made his return to the pitch this Wednesday during the Leagues Cup clash between Inter Miami and León. The Argentine star entered the field as a substitute at the start of the second half, in a match where the Florida team is momentarily leading 2-1.
The captain’s return comes after a few days marked by family tragedy, following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, at 68 years of age. Due to this event, the number 10 was absent from the previous match against Monterrey, where the team suffered a 1-2 defeat.
An unexpected return
Messi’s presence on the bench took everyone by surprise, as the player had not rejoined training sessions following his trip to Argentina. Despite not having warmed up with the rest of his teammates during the break, the crowd present at the stadium gave him a deafening ovation the moment he entered the pitch.
I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played soccer and now I have quite a few doubts that I will continue doing it for much longer. You were by my side from the beginning, there was so little left until the end. Why didn’t you hold on for that little bit more and we could have finished together?
Lionel Messi, through his social media.Through his official Instagram account, the footballer shared a heartfelt farewell message, where he reflected on the impact of this loss on his professional career and confessed the doubts he is experiencing regarding his continuity in high-performance football.
Official post by Lionel Messi regarding the passing of his father
The Inter Miami challenge
Beyond the personal level, the team led by the Argentine star finds itself in a critical situation within the Leagues Cup. To keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage alive, Inter Miami not only needs to secure a resounding victory in this match, but also depends on a combination of favorable results in other Major League Soccer (MLS) fixtures that will be decided in the coming hours.
