Messi makes emotional return as Miami gets knocked out Leagues Cup

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Miami[/a] captain flew back to Florida from Argentina on Tuesday night after attending his father's funeral and came on at half-time to a massive ovation.[/p][p]The Argentina captain, 39, attended the funeral of his father, Jorge, on Sunday. Jorge, who was his son's agent, died last week at the age of 68.[/p][p]On Wednesday morning, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] posted an emotional tribute to his father on social media, admitting that he wasn't sure he wanted to continue playing football.[/p][p][b]"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on,"[/b] Messi wrote. [b]"I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer."[/b][/p][embed guid="d5f50d9a-1876-44e1-97a0-52361f352915" url="https://x.com/ESPNFC/status/2087531100595736906?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Miami led [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/club-leon-l0iuHPBQ/inter-miami-0AheRyBg/?mid=jVoj4HGD"]1-0[/a], but two goals from Colombian Daniel Arcila fueled Leon's come-from-behind victory, which made them the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs.[/p][p]Messi had made himself available to coach Guillermo Hoyos for Miami's do-or-die attempt to advance in the Leagues Cup.[/p][embed guid="4a111050-69e6-4439-9b30-994113d35b5b" url="https://x.com/MLS/status/2087702685747134626?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They were without Messi when they lost a second group stage match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/monterrey/Ya23C2Zs/"]Monterrey[/a] and needed a victory to have any hope of moving on.[/p][p]It's the first time Miami have been knocked out in the opening phase since the tournament's expansion in 2023.[/p][p]Miami won it all that year with Messi, shortly after he arrived at the Florida franchise alongside Spaniards [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/busquets-sergio/CU4pL3ue/"]Sergio Busquets[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alba-jordi/42SIX9sl/"]Jordi Alba[/a].[/p][p]Miami reached the 2025 final but were thrashed 3-0 by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-sounders/6P5S63Ah/"]Seattle Sounders[/a] - a match marked by a brawl after the final whistle, which led to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suarez-luis/dUShzrBp/"]Luis Suarez[/a] being suspended for the entire tournament.[/p]