PHILADELPHIA: Lionel Messi found a powerful moment of relief on the soccer field Wednesday, scoring his first goal since the death of his father as Inter Miami ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-2 draw against Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
Messi’s father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, died at age 68 on Aug. 8 in Rosario, Argentina. His death came during a difficult period for the Argentine superstar, who paid an emotional tribute to his father last week and said he did not know how to continue without him.
Messi made his return to the scoresheet in the 26th minute. After shaking off his marker, the 39-year-old forward sent a left-footed shot into the net to give Miami a 2-1 first-half lead. His teammates immediately gathered around him, creating an emotional celebration following the goal.
Messi also played a role in Miami’s opening goal, providing the assist as the defending MLS Cup champions looked to recover from a difficult run of results.
MAGIC from Messi as @InterMiamiCF take the lead over the Union! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/lJ5tpDMUIA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 20, 2026
The draw ended Miami’s three-game losing streak but denied the team a victory despite Messi’s individual contribution. Philadelphia managed to fight back and secure a point on a hot and humid night in Pennsylvania.
The goal was Messi’s 13th of the season, leaving him one goal behind Dallas striker Petar Musa in the MLS Golden Boot race. Messi won the scoring title last season and remains among the league’s leading scorers.
The goal also marked an important personal return for Messi after the loss of his father, who played a significant role in his career and served as his longtime representative.
Messi’s father was closely involved in managing his son’s career from the early stages of his rise in soccer. His death has been a deeply personal loss for the Inter Miami captain, who publicly acknowledged the difficulty of moving forward without him.
Messi remains one of the central figures for both Inter Miami and Argentina. He also captained Argentina in this year’s World Cup final, where the team lost to Spain.
While Wednesday’s result gave Miami a point, Messi’s return to the scoresheet carried significance beyond the standings. It was his first goal since his father’s death and came at a moment when the soccer star was still navigating a deeply personal loss.
