Overview
- Jorge Messi died in Rosario and the family confirmed the news on Saturday, and Lionel Messi has traveled to Argentina and will not be in Inter Miami’s squad for the Leagues Cup game against Monterrey.
- Inter Miami posted an official tribute on its X account and added a black ribbon to its crest as the club and the wider football community issued condolences.
- Coach Guillermo Hoyos will adjust the lineup with Noah Allen expected to wear the captain’s armband because Messi is away and veteran striker Luis Suárez is suspended.
- Miami also faces attacking shortages from injuries to other forwards, which increases pressure on midfielders such as Casemiro and Rodrigo De Paul to provide goals.
- The match matters for qualification because the Leagues Cup uses separate MLS and Liga MX tables, only the top four from each advance, and tied games go straight to penalty shootouts that award two points to the winner and one to the loser; Messi’s earliest realistic comeback has been pegged around August 19 with shorter windows on August 12 and August 15 seen as less likely.