Inter Miami loses 2-1 to Monterrey in Leagues Cup amid grief for Messi's father

Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald on Aug 8, 2026

Published in Soccer

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

MIAMI — Inter Miami was forced to play without Lionel Messi Saturday night as he returned to Argentina to be with his family after the death of his father, Jorge, and the Leagues Cup game ended on a somber note after Miami gave up a 90th minute goal to lose 2-1 to Mexican team Monterrey.

It was Miami’s first loss since May 2 and snapped an eight-game unbeaten streak. With the loss, Inter Miami dropped to 10th place among the 18 MLS teams in the Leagues Cup tournament and is on the brink of elimination heading into the third group stage game Wednesday against Leon.

Miami has just three points from its opening win over San Luis, which puts the team in a deep hole as three MLS teams already have six points with many teams yet to play their second match.

Messi’s teammates wore black armbands on Saturday and a moment of silence was observed at Nu Stadium before the game. The club also announced that no coaches or players would be available for post-game interviews.

In the 32nd minute, Messi’s close friend and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who wore the captain’s armband in Messi’s absence, paid the Messi family a perfect tribute. He scored on a right-footed blast from outside the box to the bottom left corner to give Miami a 1-0 lead and then lifted his shirt to reveal Messi’s No. 10 jersey, which he was wearing underneath.

De Paul pointed to the back of the shirt as the crowd roared. He was shown a yellow card for excessive celebration, which drew loud boos and hisses from the fans.

La Familia, Inter Miami’s most ardent supporters, waved a large banner that said “Fuerza Leo” (Stay Strong, Leo) and chanted, “Ole, Ole, Ole, Leo, Leo!”

Miami held a 1-0 lead at halftime after a pair of big saves by goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, one on a header by Orbelin Pineda just before intermission and another on a low shot from Pineda a few minutes earlier.

Monterrey tied it up 1-1 a few minutes into the second half on a goal by newly-signed Hugo Cuypers, the Belgian striker who left the Chicago Fire mid-season as the joint-MLS Golden Boot leader after the Fire signed Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski. He also scored the lone Rayados goal against Orlando City on Wednesday.

Just when it seemed the match was headed to penalty kicks because there are no ties in Leagues Cup, the visitors took the lead at the 90-minute mark when Diego Rossi, another former MLS player, took advantage of weak Inter Miami defending and slipped the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

Messi’s absence, along with the suspension of Luis Suarez and injuries to German Berterame and Mateo Silvetti, left Inter Miami’s attack depleted. Daniel Pinter and Lovend’s Delinois started at forward. Delinois, 21, is a native of Haiti who was promoted from the second team, as Pinter was earlier this season.

The rest of the starters were goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, right back Facundo Mura, center back Ian Fray, center back Micael, left back Noah Allen, midfielder De Paul, midfielder Casemiro, midfielder Yannick Bright and midfielder Telasco Segovia.

Bright and Allen came out in the 68th minute and were replaced by David Ayala and Sergio Reguilon. David Ruiz and Preston Plambeck entered the game for Mura and Pinter in the 76th minute.

Monterrey dominated possession 58% to 42% and had six shots on goal to four from Miami.

Miami, which won its Leagues Cup opener 4-2 against San Luis on Wednesday, expected a tough match against Rayados (“The Striped Ones”, as the Monterrey team is known). Monterrey eliminated Inter Miami from the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup in the quarterfinals.

Monterrey was a semifinalist in the 2023 Leagues Cup, which Miami went on to win in a dramatic penalty kick shootout over Nashville weeks after Messi’s arrival in MLS. Inter Miami made the final in 2025, but lost 3-0 to Seattle in a game that ended with a brawl that led to Suarez’s suspension.

The top four teams from each table, MLS and Liga MX, advance to the quarterfinals, where the matchups are determined by position: the first-place team from MLS faces the fourth-place team from Liga MX, the second-place team faces the third-place team, and so on. The final is Sept. 6.

____