Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup group stage Saturday night, a defeat that came with significant off-field developments for the club. The match marked the team’s first group loss after a previous win, and Miami’s chances of advancing to the knockout rounds now look uncertain.
Messi absence and personal tragedy
Forward Lionel Messi was not with the team after returning to his native Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge. Club officials and media reports have not provided a timeline for Messi’s return to Miami.
"It is not known when the 39-year-old star forward will return to the club."
Messi had played a role in Inter Miami’s recent form: he took a two-week break after leading Argentina to a World Cup runner-up finish, then rejoined the club as a substitute in MLS action on Aug. 1. He also produced two goals and an assist in Miami’s opening Leagues Cup match, a 4-2 victory over Atlético San Luis on Wednesday.
Match summary
Rodrigo De Paul gave Inter Miami the lead in the 32nd minute with a 25-yard strike that curled inside the left post. De Paul briefly removed his No. 7 shirt in celebration to reveal Messi’s No. 10 beneath — a gesture of solidarity with the absent star.
Monterrey mounted a second-half comeback. Hugo Cuypers equalized in the 47th minute after transferring to Monterrey from the Chicago Fire on July 23; Cuypers had been an MLS All-Star and scored 13 goals in 11 games for Chicago earlier this season. Diego Rossi, acquired July 3 from Columbus Crew, converted a late winner in stoppage time to complete a 2-1 victory for Monterrey.
| Team | Goals | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Inter Miami | 1 | Rodrigo De Paul (32') |
| Monterrey | 2 | Hugo Cuypers (47'), Diego Rossi (90') |
Rossi, who earned the 2022 MLS Golden Boot with Los Angeles FC and later contributed to Columbus Crew championships, provided the decisive strike that left Miami searching for answers late in the tournament’s group play.
Implications for Miami’s Leagues Cup run and club future
With the result, both clubs sit at 1-1-0 and 3 points in their 18-team group, tightening the margin for error as each team faces a final group-stage match. Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup and were finalists last year, but the loss against Monterrey complicates Miami’s route to the knockout stage.
- Miami’s tournament standing: 1-1-0, 3 points
- Monterrey’s tournament standing: 1-1-0, 3 points
- Key absences: Lionel Messi was not available following a family death
The match also arrives amid long-term developments for the franchise. Reports indicate Messi has agreed to a new contract that ties the sport’s most prominent player to the club through its planned move into a new stadium next year. That commitment offers a longer-term anchor for Miami soccer even as short-term results and the star’s personal circumstances complicate the present.
For local supporters, the combination of a tight Leagues Cup group, the club’s immediate results and Messi’s uncertain availability creates a fraught moment. The team’s performance without its marquee player will be watched closely in the coming days as Inter Miami prepares for the final group fixture and for the MLS season that follows.
Monterrey’s late comeback underscores both the depth of the competition in the Leagues Cup and the influence of recent midseason transfers: Cuypers and Rossi were both recent arrivals who impacted the match decisively for Monterrey.
As Miami looks ahead, questions remain about squad rotation, how the club will respond on the field in Messi’s absence, and the timeline for his return to the United States. Those developments will shape both the team’s immediate prospects in the Leagues Cup and the broader expectations for a club preparing to move into a new stadium next year.
Coverage will continue as the club provides updates on Messi’s status and as Inter Miami prepares for its next competitive match.
