Lionel Messi absent from Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match with CF Monterrey after father’s death

Lionel Messi did not feature for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup 2026 fixture against CF Monterrey at the NU Stadium after his father and representative, Jorge Messi, died in Rosario following a prolonged illness. The Argentine's absence came amid the tournament campaign.

Inter Miami began their Leagues Cup run with a 4-2 victory over San Luis, a match in which the team secured three points despite defensive shortcomings. Manager Guillermo Hoyos’s side had been enjoying a run of form prior to their recent 1-2 loss to CF Monterrey. In that defeat Rodrigo De Paul scored Inter Miami’s only goal.

Jorge Messi, aged 68, passed away in Rosario after battling a prolonged illness; the exact medical cause of death has not been specified. Jorge acted as Lionel’s representative and was described in the source as an influential figure in his son’s life and football career.

Lionel Messi was not included in the squad for the Monterrey game. Luis Suarez was also absent for reasons that remain unknown, while Germán Berterame was still recovering from a recent injury. Inter Miami started with a two-striker pairing of youngsters Daniel Pinter and Lovens Delinois, but that setup did not produce a winning performance against CF Monterrey.

Messi, 39, had scored a brace in the 4-2 win over San Luis and, according to the report, has 15 goals and eight assists in 18 games for Inter Miami across all competitions in 2026. The report also notes he won the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami in 2023 and scored 14 goals in 12 matches in that campaign.

Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match at the NU Stadium ended in a 1-2 defeat to CF Monterrey while Lionel Messi dealt with his personal loss, and the team’s earlier 4-2 victory over San Luis remains part of their 2026 Leagues Cup record.