Lionel Messi scored his first goal since his father’s death on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, in Inter Miami’s 2-2 Major League Soccer draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
Jorge Messi, the forward’s father and long-time agent, died on Saturday, 8 August 2026 at the age of 68, as reported by Al Jazeera. His son returned to Argentina and had played twice since coming back to the United States without scoring.
How Messi’s first goal since his father’s death was scored
The goal arrived in the 26th minute and put Miami 2-1 ahead. Messi struck a trademark curling shot with his left foot into the far corner, the finish that has defined much of his club and international career.
There was little of the usual celebration. Messi shared a restrained moment with his teammates and allowed himself a brief smile, before pointing both hands towards the sky over Philadelphia in a tribute to his father.
Miami’s opening goal, five minutes earlier, had also run through him. Messi picked out a run down the left flank from Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who headed the ball back across the face of goal for young American Daniel Pinter to finish from close range.
Why the draw left Inter Miami’s coach unhappy
The hosts had taken the lead through Indiana Vassilev in the 11th minute, and Neil Pierre levelled the match again in the 58th to cancel out the advantage Messi had given the visitors. Miami could not find a third goal.
Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos was blunt about the result afterwards, pointing to a schedule that gave his squad almost no room to recover before the next fixture rather than to anything in the performance itself.
Hoyos said:
“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.”
What Messi’s first goal since his father’s death changes
The strike moved Messi, 39, into second place on the MLS scoring chart on 13 goals. He sat three behind Croatian forward Petar Musa, who scored twice for Dallas in a 4-3 win at Real Salt Lake on the same night.
Scoring records had followed him through the year. Messi broke the all-time World Cup goal record in June 2026, moving clear of Miroslav Klose, and returned to club football in the United States before his father’s death interrupted the season.
Both matches Messi played after returning from Argentina had ended without a goal.
Miami were eliminated from the Leagues Cup by Mexican side Leon in a 3-2 defeat, then lost 4-1 to Nashville in the league, a match in which he missed a penalty.
Toronto FC were next, on Saturday, 22 August 2026, inside the window Hoyos had described. The draw left Miami four matches without a win and seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville, who beat the New York Red Bulls 1-0 the same night, so the goal in Philadelphia registered as a personal marker rather than a turn in the season.
