Inter Miami honors Jorge Messi; De Paul scores, reveals Messi kit in tribute
Inter Miami held a pregame tribute for Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father, who died at 68. Before a Leagues Cup match against Monterrey at Nu Stadium, a minute of silence was observed and players wore black armbands. Lionel Messi was absent, traveling to Rosario, Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul captained the team, scored, and revealed a Messi No. 10 jersey in tribute. Despite the emotional start, Miami lost 2-1. Tributes also came from Barcelona and MLS. Messi’s return date is unclear.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- De Paul's shirt reveal was a meaningful tribute to Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi.
- The media coverage of Jorge Messi's death has been overly positive and has ignored his controversial past, like tax issues and contract disputes.
- The yellow card for removing the shirt was technically correct under current rules, but the rules might need updating for emotional moments.
- De Paul knew the rule and made a deliberate choice to honor his teammate, accepting the booking as a consequence.
Points of contention
- Whether De Paul's gesture was purely authentic or partly staged for the cameras.
- If the referee should have shown discretion and not given a yellow card for a grief-related tribute.
- Whether the focus should be on the rules and the yellow card or on the media's commodification of grief.
- If Jorge Messi's controversies should be discussed more openly in tributes or if that would be disrespectful.
Blind spots
- The debate didn't fully explore how FIFA or IFAB could create a 'compassion clause' for emotional tributes.
- The role of fans and social media in amplifying or challenging the media's sanitized narrative was overlooked.
- The power dynamics between big football clubs, media outlets, and player families were mentioned but not deeply analyzed.
- The specific factual errors in the Hupu articles (wrong teams, players) were noted but not corrected or explained in detail.
WorldAttention’s read
This debate showed that De Paul's tribute was a sincere, calculated act of friendship, but it also revealed deeper issues: the media's selective silence about Jorge Messi's controversies, the rigidity of football's rules that don't allow for human moments, and how grief can be both authentic and packaged for public consumption. The real takeaway is that while the yellow card was technically right, the rules should be updated to allow referees discretion in personal situations. Instead of arguing about authenticity or blame, we should push for policy changes that balance respect for the game with compassion for players.
Wire timeline
Casemiro Praises Messi's Dedication After Family Tragedy, Inter Miami Eliminated from Leagues Cup
Inter Miami lost 2-3 to Club León, failing to advance from the Leagues Cup group stage. After the match, midfielders Casemiro and Yannick Bright spoke to the media, focusing on Lionel Messi's return to play just days after his father's death. Casemiro called Messi a role model, stating he had never seen such dedication in his career and thanked him for his commitment to the team. Bright revealed Messi's return inspired the entire locker room, with players feeling compelled to give 150% effort for him. Both players emphasized supporting Messi during his difficult time while the team prepares for upcoming matches.
Messi Returns After Father's Death, Inter Miami Eliminated from Leagues Cup
Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami in the 2026 Leagues Cup after the death of his father, Jorge Messi. Coming off the bench in the second half, Messi helped create a goal but could not prevent a 2-3 loss to Mexico's León, resulting in Inter Miami's elimination. After the match, Messi quickly left the field without exchanging jerseys with opponents, appearing subdued. Despite several scoring opportunities, including a late chance saved by the goalkeeper and a missed header by a teammate in stoppage time, Messi was unable to equalize. The match marked an emotional return for the star player following a brief trip to Argentina for his father's funeral.
Messi Returns to Pitch Days After Father's Death, Plays Through Grief in Leagues Cup Loss
Lionel Messi returned to play for Inter Miami just four days after the death of his father, Jorge, coming off the bench in the second half of a Leagues Cup match against Mexico's León. Hours earlier, he had published a deeply emotional open letter on Instagram, expressing his grief and uncertainty about his future in football. Despite a 2-3 loss that eliminated Miami from the tournament, Messi's decision to play was widely seen as a tribute to his father, who loved watching him on the field. The match was marked by fan chants and a heartfelt hug from an opponent. The article, written by Olé reporter Hernán Claus, emphasizes that Messi's resilience and love for football transcended the result, honoring his father through both words and action.
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Messi Returns to Inter Miami Bench After Father's Funeral
Lionel Messi has returned to Inter Miami's squad for their Leagues Cup group stage match against Mexican club Leon on August 13. The pre-match squad list shows Messi on the bench. Messi's father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, recently passed away in Rosario, Argentina at age 68. After his father's death, Messi returned to Argentina to be with his family and missed Inter Miami's previous Leagues Cup match, a 1-2 loss to Monterrey. Messi paid tribute to his father on social media, thanking him for everything. Before the match, Messi arrived at the stadium with the team and was seen walking onto the pitch holding mate tea. He will be available from the bench for this match.
Inter Miami Defender Mula: We Will Stand by Messi Through Everything Ahead
Inter Miami right-back Facundo Mula and head coach Guillermo Hoyos expressed support for Lionel Messi following the death of his father, Jorge, during a pre-match press conference. Mula stated that the team is with Messi from afar and will continue to support him whenever he returns. Hoyos acknowledged the profound pain of the loss. The article also notes that during a previous match against Monterrey, fans observed a minute of silence and displayed a banner for Messi, while De Paul paid tribute by revealing a Messi jersey after scoring. Inter Miami faces Club León in a crucial Leagues Cup match, needing a win and other results to advance, currently sitting 11th with 3 points.
De Paul Honors Messi by Revealing His Jersey After Scoring
Following the recent passing of Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, at age 68, Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul paid a touching tribute during Inter Miami's home match against Monterrey. De Paul wore a Messi No. 10 jersey underneath his own uniform. After scoring a goal, he removed his outer jersey to reveal Messi's jersey, a gesture widely shared on social media. The article notes Messi had flown back to Argentina to bid farewell to his father. The tribute occurred in the context of the match between Monterrey and Inter Miami, with discussion in the Hupu soccer community about whether such an action could result in a yellow card.
De Paul Scores, Reveals Messi Jersey in Tribute After Father's Death
During a Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and Monterrey on August 9, Rodrigo De Paul scored a goal following a cross-field assist from Casemiro. After scoring, De Paul removed his jersey to reveal a Messi shirt underneath, showing support and tribute to Lionel Messi, who had returned to Argentina due to his father's passing. De Paul received a yellow card for the celebration. Messi missed the match as he traveled to Argentina to bid farewell to his father, Jorge Messi, who died at age 68. The gesture was widely noted as a display of solidarity and friendship between the two Argentine teammates.
Inter Miami honors Lionel Messi's late father Jorge with tribute; De Paul scores wearing Messi kit
Inter Miami held a pregame tribute for Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father, who died at age 68 after an illness. Before the Leagues Cup match against Monterrey at Nu Stadium, a minute of silence was observed, and Miami players wore black armbands. Lionel Messi was absent, having traveled to Rosario, Argentina, to be with family. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's close friend and Argentina teammate, captained the team and scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute. He celebrated by removing his shirt to reveal a Messi No. 10 kit underneath. Despite the emotional tribute, Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey, with goals from Hugo Cuypers and Diego Rossi. Tributes also came from Barcelona, Newell's Old Boys, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Messi's return date to the club is unclear.
Inter Miami Honors Lionel Messi's Late Father Jorge with Tribute; De Paul Scores and Reveals Messi Kit
Inter Miami paid tribute to Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's father, who died at age 68 after an illness. Before a Leagues Cup match against Liga MX's Monterrey at Nu Stadium, the club held a minute of silence, and players wore black armbands. Lionel Messi was absent, having traveled to Rosario, Argentina, to be with family. Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's close friend and Argentina teammate, captained the side and scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute. He removed his shirt to reveal a Messi No. 10 kit underneath as a tribute. Despite the emotional start, Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey, with goals from Hugo Cuypers and Diego Rossi. Tributes also came from Barcelona, which observed a moment of silence before a friendly, and from MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Messi had scored twice in Miami's previous Leagues Cup win; his return date is uncertain.