Lionel Messi did not feature for Inter Miami in their Leagues Cup group-stage clash against Monterrey on Saturday, following the death of his father Jorge, with the club and football world at large offering tributes throughout the day.
Jorge Messi passed away at the age of 68 in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, after a lengthy illness. Beyond being Lionel's father, Jorge had also served as his agent since the Argentine superstar was just 14 years old, playing a pivotal role in shaping his son's career from its earliest days.
Inter Miami held a minute's silence before kick-off at Nu Stadium, with players wearing black armbands in Jorge's memory and his name displayed on the stadium's big screens. The club also updated its social media profile pictures with a black ribbon and issued a statement saying: "Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family."
On the pitch, Miami suffered a 2-1 defeat, but not before a heartfelt gesture from Messi's international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul. After putting Miami ahead in the 32nd minute, De Paul lifted his shirt to reveal a number 10 Messi jersey underneath, a poignant show of solidarity with his absent captain. Miami held the lead at halftime, but Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers levelled for Monterrey before Diego Rossi struck in the 90th minute to complete the comeback and secure victory for the visitors.
Luis Suarez, who was unavailable for the match due to suspension, also paid tribute to Jorge on social media, writing on Instagram that he would continue to watch over his son