**Lionel Messi Scores First Goal for Inter Miami Since Father's Passing**
**Philadelphia, PA** – Lionel Messi made a poignant return to the pitch on August 19, 2026, scoring his first goal for Inter Miami since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier this month. The match against the Philadelphia Union ended in a 2-2 draw, but Messi's performance was a highlight amid the team's ongoing struggles.
Messi's goal came in the 26th minute, where he executed a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner of the net, giving Inter Miami a brief 2-1 lead. The moment was marked by a restrained celebration; after scoring, Messi pointed his hands skyward in tribute to his late father, who passed away on August 8 at the age of 68. This gesture resonated deeply with fans and teammates alike.
Prior to his goal, Messi played a crucial role in Miami's first goal of the match, assisting young American forward Daniel Pinter. Messi's vision and skill were on display as he set up Pinter with a well-placed header from Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who had made a run down the left flank.
Despite Messi's contributions, Inter Miami could not secure a victory. The Union equalized with goals from Indiana Vassilev in the 11th minute and Neil Pierre in the 58th minute. Following the match, Miami's head coach Guillermo Hoyos expressed disappointment with the draw, stating, “We came to win but we couldn’t. We’re not happy with the draw because we don’t like it, but now we need to try to rest and think about the next game, which is in less than 72 hours.”
This match marked a significant moment for Messi, who had not scored in his previous two outings since returning from Argentina after his father's death. In those matches, Inter Miami faced tough defeats, including a 3-2 loss to Mexican side Leon, which eliminated them from the Leagues Cup, and a 4-1 loss to Nashville SC, where Messi notably missed a penalty.
With this latest goal, Messi moved into second place on the Major League Soccer (MLS) scoring chart with a total of 13 goals, trailing Croatian forward Petar Musa, who scored twice for FC Dallas in a 4-3 victory over Real Salt Lake on the same night.
Inter Miami's current form has been challenging, as they have now gone four matches without a victory and find themselves seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville, who secured a narrow 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls.
As the team prepares for their next match against Toronto FC, Messi's performance and emotional tribute may serve as a rallying point for Inter Miami as they seek to improve their standing in the league.