Lionel Messi played for Inter Miami just hours after publicly sharing doubts about his future in football, but it was not enough to prevent the club's 3-2 defeat to Mexico's Leon in the Leagues Cup on Wednesday.

The Argentina star returned to Florida on Tuesday night following the funeral of his father, Jorge, who died last week at the age of 68. Messi came on as a substitute at halftime, receiving a significant ovation from the crowd.

Earlier on Wednesday, Messi posted an emotional tribute to his father on social media, expressing uncertainty about continuing his playing career. "I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on," Messi wrote. "I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer."

The loss marked Inter Miami's first elimination in the opening phase of the expanded Leagues Cup and meant Leon became the first team to secure a quarterfinal spot. Daniel Arcila scored twice for Leon, securing their comeback victory after Miami had initially led 1-0.

Messi had made himself available for the crucial match after missing their previous fixture. Teammates and coaches acknowledged the difficulty of his personal situation while commending his commitment. "It shows how much he cares," said Inter Miami's Yannick Bright, who scored one of the team's goals. "It’s a tough situation. We try to stay close to him and support him as much as we can."

Brazilian teammate Casemiro described Messi as "an example for all of us" for his dedication during this personal time. Leon coach Javier Gandolfi also praised Messi's character, stating he "demonstrated once more what he’s made of" and is "a human being that is different to the rest."

This is the first time Inter Miami has been knocked out in the group stage of the Leagues Cup since the tournament's expansion in 2023. The club, with Messi among its ranks, won the trophy in their inaugural year of participation.

Inter Miami reached the 2025 final but were defeated. The source material does not provide details on the opponent or score for that final, nor does it elaborate on the brawl that reportedly occurred after the whistle.