Messi misses Miami defeat after death of father

Lionel Messi was absent from Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Monterrey due to the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The 68-year-old Jorge, who served as his son's agent since he was 14, passed away following a long illness in a hospital in Rosario, Argentina. In response to the tragic news, Inter Miami honored Jorge's memory by observing a minute's silence before the match and displaying Jorge's name on big screens at Nu Stadium.

The team also wore black armbands and added a black ribbon to their social media profile pictures. Jorge's name was prominently featured on the club's social media accounts, and fans displayed handmade signs offering support to Messi and his family. Argentina teammate Rodrigo de Paul celebrated his team's opening goal by revealing Messi's name on his shirt.

Barcelona, Messi's former club, paid tribute to Jorge, expressing gratitude for his role in signing the young player and supporting his football career. The Argentine Football Association, Paris St-Germain, and other clubs across Argentina also paid their respects to Jorge Messi during this difficult time.