Leo Messi was in doubt for Inter Miami’s second group-stage match against Rayados de Monterrey at NU Stadium after Argentine media reported in the early hours of Saturday that his father, Jorge, had died.
The report added uncertainty to a key Leagues Cup matchup for Inter Miami, which won the tournament for the first time in its history with Messi in 2023. The family news was still unconfirmed at the time, with no official statement from the family.
What Messi had done already in the tournament
Messi had been central to Inter Miami’s start in the competition. In the first Leagues Cup match, he played 90 minutes against Atlético San Luis and contributed to three of Inter Miami’s four goals.
He had also just returned to action the previous Saturday against Columbus Crew, playing the last 37 minutes of a 2-2 draw. That came after his return to Inter Miami following the disappointment of the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina lost to España.
For Inter Miami, the situation left the club waiting on Messi’s availability for a second jornada match in group A. After facing Rayados de Monterrey, Inter Miami were set to close the group stage against Club León.
If Messi is unable to play, it would be a notable change for a team that has leaned heavily on his presence in the opening stages of the Leagues Cup. Even before the off-field uncertainty, the schedule had already put him in the middle of a quick turnaround after his return to the lineup.
