Leagues Cup: Messi rejoins Inter Miami squad, returns to pitch after father's demise

Lionel Messi returned to the pitch for Inter Miami after the death of his father, Jorge (68), but the team was eliminated from the Leagues Cup with a 2-3 loss to Leon on Wednesday in Miami. Messi was not in the starting lineup; with Leon leading 1-0 at halftime, he came on as a substitute for Daniel Pinter. Leon scored equalizers through Daniel Arcila (50th minute) and Yannick Bright restored Inter Miami’s advantage (54th), before Juan Dominguez leveled in the 61st. Arcila netted again in the 83rd to seal the knockout-round exit. Inter Miami had won once and lost twice in the group stage after a run to the finals last year. Hours before kickoff, Messi posted an emotional tribute on Instagram from after traveling to Rosario for a private memorial service.