Argentine forward Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami's lineup after the death of his father, but his team suffered a defeat to Mexico's Leon in the 2026 MLS and MX Leagues Cup match and was eliminated from the tournament, according to infohub.kz.
The match, held at Nu Stadium in Miami, ended 3-2 in favor of the visitors. For the winners, Colombian midfielder Daniel Arcila scored a brace (50th and 83rd minutes), and Mexican midfielder Juan Dominguez added another goal (61st minute). For the hosts, American forward Daniel Pinter (42nd minute) and Italian midfielder Yannick Bright (53rd minute) found the net.
Messi, who had previously left the team due to his father's death, came on as a substitute right after halftime but did not register a goal or assist. Inter Miami, with three points from three matches, finished 16th among MLS representatives and were eliminated from the Leagues Cup. Leon, with a perfect nine points, became the best Mexican team and advanced to the playoffs.