Lionel Messi made an emotional return to the pitch on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute for Inter Miami just days after burying his father and publicly questioning how much longer he will keep playing.

Jorge Messi, who had guided his son’s career since he was a teenager, died last week in the family’s hometown of Rosario, Argentina, following a long illness. He was 68.

A Return Marked by Grief and Support

Messi, 39, was named among the substitutes for Miami’s must-win Leagues Cup group finale against Mexican side Leon, having sat out training and missed Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Monterrey while he traveled home for the funeral. He attended the private service in Argentina on Sunday before flying back to the United States in time to rejoin his teammates.

Coach Guillermo Hoyos brought him on at halftime, and he was met with a wave of applause from the Miami crowd. Despite his presence, the club could not hold on, falling 3-2 to Leon and crashing out in the competition’s opening phase for the first time since the Leagues Cup adopted its expanded format in 2023 — the same year Messi joined the club and led it to the title.

Teammate Yannick Bright, who scored Miami’s second goal in the defeat, said he had not anticipated seeing his captain back so soon.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Bright said. “It shows how much he cares. When I saw he was here, all I was thinking about was to give my 150% for him.”

He added that the squad was trying to steady itself around Messi through a painful stretch. “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.”

Leon’s coach, Javier Gandolfi, offered his own tribute after the match, describing Messi as someone set apart from his peers. “Today he demonstrated once more what he’s made of,” Gandolfi said.

A Lifelong Partnership Cut Short

Jorge Messi’s role in his son’s life extended far beyond that of a parent. He became Lionel’s agent when the future World Cup winner was just 14 years old, steering him through the decisions that shaped one of the sport’s most decorated careers. He was present for the milestones that followed, including the night Messi lifted the World Cup as Argentina’s captain in 2022.

That bond was tested again this year. Argentina reached the final of this summer’s World Cup but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time. Messi later revealed that his father, even as his health declined, had pushed him to compete in the tournament, telling his son to “play in one last World Cup.”