Lionel Messi is still in Rosario, with no timeline set for his return to the club. Jorge Messi died in the city on Saturday at the age of 68 after a long illness.
The forward flew from Fort Lauderdale on a private jet the same day, arriving at Islas Malvinas International Airport late in the evening with Antonela Roccuzzo and their children. On Sunday he attended a private funeral at El Prado Cementerio Parque in Pérez, on the outskirts of Rosario. His father had guided his career from childhood and served as his agent throughout it.
Inter Miami granted the compassionate leave and issued a short statement.
“Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
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De Paul lifts a Messi jersey and picks up a yellow
Without Messi, Miami lost 2-1 to CF Monterrey at Nu Stadium on Saturday. Rodrigo De Paul struck from outside the box in the 32nd minute and pulled up his shirt to reveal a Messi No. 10 jersey underneath, drawing a yellow card. Hugo Cuypers levelled early in the second half and Diego Rossi won it for the visitors in the 90th.
A minute’s silence had preceded kickoff, with Jorge Messi’s name on the stadium screens and the home players in black armbands. Miami’s supporters unveiled a “Fuerza Leo” banner in the 10th minute.
Monterrey coach Matías Almeyda spoke about his opposite number.
“A father is a father. Losing a father is very painful,” Almeyda said.
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Guillermo Hoyos’s side must beat unbeaten León
Miami sit on three points from two Phase One matches, 11th in the standings and needing a win on Wednesday to reach the knockouts. León have taken maximum points from two, beating Nashville SC 1-0 and Orlando City 2-1. Kickoff at Nu Stadium is at 7:30pm local time.
The blow is sharper because of how Messi’s own campaign started. On August 5 he scored twice and set up a fourth in the 4-2 win over Atlético de San Luis, his second goal being his 14th in the competition and an all-time Leagues Cup record that took him past LAFC’s Denis Bouanga.
Guillermo Hoyos is also without Luis Suárez, Germán Berterame, Mateo Silvetti and Tadeo Allende, and against Monterrey the teenagers Daniel Pinter and Lovens Delinois filled out the attack.
Inter Miami’s next MLS assignment after León is a trip to Philadelphia Union on 19 August, once mooted as Messi’s likely comeback, but no return date has been set.
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