Overview
- Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on August 8, and Messi flew to Rosario for a private memorial before returning to Miami.
- Messi rejoined training, came on as a substitute in Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup loss to Club León, and was gradually reintegrated into the squad.
- Coach Guillermo Hoyos publicly urged privacy and said the club would let Messi decide his playing schedule and minutes.
- Messi started his first match since his father’s death on August 15, had a penalty saved, received a yellow card, assisted Inter Miami’s lone goal, and Nashville won 4-1 with Hany Mukhtar scoring twice.
- The loss left Nashville atop the MLS table and kept Inter Miami second, and Miami faces a congested schedule that will force the club to balance Messi’s recovery with its Supporters’ Shield ambitions.