Lionel Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, as Inter Miami drew 2-2 with Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The Argentine captain struck in the 26th minute at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, putting Inter Miami 2-1 ahead with a left-footed finish. He had also played a role in Miami’s opening goal, providing the assist that led to Daniel Pinter’s effort.
Messi’s goal came 11 days after his father died aged 68 in Rosario, Argentina. Jorge Messi was a central figure in his son’s career and had also served as his agent.
After scoring, Messi shared a subdued celebration with his teammates before raising his hands toward the sky, a gesture widely associated with his tributes to loved ones.
Despite Messi’s contribution, Inter Miami could not hold on to the lead as Philadelphia Union secured a point.
The goal was particularly significant because it followed a difficult period for the 39-year-old forward.
Messi missed part of Inter Miami’s schedule after travelling to Argentina following his father’s death. He returned to action as a substitute against Club León on August 12, but Miami lost 3-2 and exited the Leagues Cup.
He then started against Nashville SC three days later, but was unable to score as Inter Miami suffered a 4-1 defeat. His penalty was saved during that match.
Against Philadelphia, however, Messi returned to the scoresheet while also creating a goal for his team.
His performance produced several important milestones:
- Messi scored his first goal since his father’s death.
- He registered an assist in the same match.
- The goal moved his MLS tally to 13 for the season.
- He finished the match as one of Miami’s main attacking threats.
- The draw ended Inter Miami’s three-game losing streak, although the club remained without a victory in four matches.
Philadelphia Union took the lead before Miami responded to turn the match around.
Inter Miami’s first goal came after Messi delivered the ball into the attacking area, with Daniel Pinter finishing the move. Messi then put his side ahead five minutes later.
Philadelphia eventually restored parity, preventing Miami from claiming what would have been an important victory on the road.
The 2-2 result extended a difficult stretch for Inter Miami, which entered the match after consecutive defeats against Nashville and León.
For a team competing near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, the failure to convert a lead into three points remains a concern despite Messi’s individual return to form.
Jorge Messi’s death has added a deeply personal dimension to Lionel Messi’s recent return to football.
Jorge played a major role in managing his son’s career from the early stages of Messi’s development in Argentina through his rise to global football prominence. He also handled aspects of the player’s business affairs.
Messi returned to the pitch only days after the funeral and acknowledged the difficulty of continuing without his father.
His return against Philadelphia therefore carried significance beyond the statistics. The goal marked the first time he had found the net since the loss while also helping Inter Miami halt its run of defeats.
The goal also has implications for Messi’s individual campaign.
According to Reuters, the strike was Messi’s 13th MLS goal of the season, leaving him one goal behind Petar Musa in the Golden Boot race.
That pursuit adds another competitive target to the remainder of Miami’s MLS campaign.
For Inter Miami, however, the bigger priority will be restoring consistency. Messi’s goal and assist demonstrated that he can still influence matches at the highest level, but the team must turn individual moments into victories if it wants to remain firmly in contention in the Eastern Conference.
Messi’s return to scoring provides a positive sign for Inter Miami after a turbulent run of results and a difficult personal period for its captain.
The draw against Philadelphia stopped the losing streak, but Miami will need wins rather than draws to rebuild momentum.
For Messi, the match represented both a sporting response and a deeply personal moment. His goal came less than two weeks after his father’s death and showed that, despite the circumstances, he remains capable of producing decisive moments on the MLS stage.
The next phase of the season will reveal whether the performance marks the beginning of a sustained return to form for Messi and Inter Miami.
