Lionel Messi misses Inter Miami defeat following death of his father

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi missed his side's Leagues Cup match against Monterrey after the death of his father, a game that ended in a 2-1 defeat for Inter Miami on Saturday night. Jorge Messi died on Saturday at the age of 68 following a long illness in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario. He had also served as his son's agent since Lionel Messi was 14 years old. Messi caught a private jet that same night, accompanied by his wife and three children, to travel from Miami to Argentina. A private funeral for Jorge Messi was held on Sunday at a cemetery in Pérez, on the outskirts of Rosario. Inter Miami held a minute's silence before the match against Monterrey, players wore black armbands, and Jorge Messi's name was displayed on the screens at Chase Stadium. The club also changed its social media profile pictures to include a black ribbon and released a statement saying: "Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and all of the Messi family." Rodrigo de Paul, Messi's Argentina teammate, removed his shirt after scoring Inter Miami's opening goal to reveal a vest bearing Messi's name. Fans also displayed banners in the stadium to support Messi and pay tribute to his father. Luis Suárez, the Inter Miami striker who was absent from the match due to suspension, wrote on Instagram that Jorge "will proudly look after his son, just as he always did." Barcelona, Messi's former club, held a minute's silence before a 1-0 friendly victory against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy. Jorge Messi took his 13-year-old son to Catalonia in 2000 and played a key role in persuading Barcelona to sign him. Expressing gratitude to Jorge, Barcelona stated: "We thank him for his commitment to our club and for entrusting us with the beginning of the journey and the brightest years of his son Leo's footballing career." Fans placed flags and flowers outside Messi's childhood home in Rosario. Boca Juniors and River Plate also held a minute's silence before their respective matches. The Argentine Football Association said in a statement that it sends its deepest condolences over the death of Jorge Messi, father of the national team's captain and symbolic figure, and expresses solidarity with his family. Paris Saint-Germain, for whom Messi played between 2021 and 2023, also stated: "The club extends its full support to Leo, his family, and his loved ones during this painful time. May he rest in peace."