LIONEL Messi was absent as Inter Miami suffered a 2-1 defeat by Monterrey in the Leagues Cup following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Jorge, 68, died on Saturday in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, after a long illness. He had served as Messi’s agent since the Argentina captain was 14.
Inter Miami observed a minute’s silence before kick-off, while players wore black armbands and Jorge Messi’s name was displayed on the stadium’s screens.
The club also changed its social media profile picture to include a black ribbon and expressed its condolences to Messi and his family.
“Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family,” the club said.
Messi’s Argentina team-mate Rodrigo de Paul, who scored Miami’s opening goal, celebrated by removing his shirt to reveal a Messi shirt underneath.
Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez, who was suspended for the match, paid tribute to Jorge on social media, saying he would continue to watch over his son “with pride, as he always did”.
Tributes across football
Messi’s former club Barcelona also held a minute’s silence before their friendly against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy.
Jorge played a significant role in his son’s early career. In 2000, he accompanied the then 13-year-old Messi to Catalonia and helped facilitate his move to Barcelona.
Barcelona paid tribute to Jorge for his “commitment to our club” and for entrusting the club with the early and most successful years of Messi’s football career.
In Rosario, fans left flowers and flags outside Messi’s childhood home, while Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate observed periods of silence before their respective matches.
The Argentine Football Association expressed its condolences to the Messi family, describing Jorge as the father of “our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi”.
Paris St-Germain, another of Messi’s former clubs, also sent its support to the footballer and his family.
Jorge Messi’s death comes as his son continues his career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, having joined the club in 2023 after spells at Barcelona and PSG. (BBC Sport)
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Tags: Father's death Messi Miami defeat
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