Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father earlier this month in Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
Messi’s father and longtime representative, Jorge, died at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, on August 8, 2026.
The Argentine superstar gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute with a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner.
After a restrained celebration with teammates, in which he allowed himself a brief smile, Messi did his trademark celebration of pointing toward the sky over Philadelphia.
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The Inter Miami captain paid an emotional tribute to his father last week, saying he did not know how to continue without him.
The draw ended a three-game losing streak for defending MLS Cup champions Miami. The goal was Messi’s 13th of the season, putting him one behind Dallas striker Petar Musa in the race for the MLS Golden Boot, which he won last season.
The 39-year-old forward also captained Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where they lost to Spain.
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