Lionel Messi appears to be finding a measure of peace on the football field as he copes with the death of his father, Jorge Messi, Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said Tuesday.
Jorge Messi, Lionel’s longtime father and agent, died at 68 in Rosario, Argentina, on Aug. 8. Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami last week, coming off the bench in a 3-2 Leagues Cup loss to León before starting Sunday’s 4-1 MLS defeat to Nashville SC.
“He looks good, expressing himself on the pitch, a place he knows to perfection, and at peace,” Hoyos told reporters.
For Messi, the return to competition has come during one of the most difficult periods of his life. His father was a central figure throughout his career, serving not only as a parent but also as his longtime representative and adviser as Messi developed from a promising youngster in Rosario into one of the most accomplished players in football history.
Messi addressed the loss publicly last week in an emotional tribute to his father, describing him as his “dad, friend and agent” and acknowledging how difficult it was to imagine continuing without him.
He also recalled how his father had encouraged him to play at one more World Cup despite his declining health. Messi said the tournament had been especially painful because Jorge was unable to be there, while he continued hoping they would have another chance to share a major footballing moment together.
The tribute offered a rare glimpse into the personal cost behind Messi’s return to the field. While the 39-year-old has spent much of his career under intense scrutiny, the death of his father has placed his football commitments in a very different context.
Messi nevertheless made himself available for Inter Miami’s crucial Leagues Cup meeting with León on Aug. 12. He entered at halftime to a standing ovation and played the second half, but Miami fell 3-2 and was eliminated from the competition.
Casemiro, who joined Inter Miami this summer, praised Messi’s willingness to return despite the circumstances.
“He sets a great example,” Casemiro said after the León match. “He is surely going through a very difficult time, but the commitment he has shown, not just to the players but to the club, has been incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
Messi then made his first MLS start since his father’s death against Nashville on Aug. 15. He missed a penalty but later produced a precise assist for Telasco Segovia’s equalizer in first-half stoppage time. Nashville, however, took control after halftime and secured a 4-1 victory, with Hany Mukhtar scoring twice and Sam Surridge also finding the net.
The results have not gone Inter Miami’s way since Messi’s return, but Hoyos said the club is focused on supporting its captain rather than placing additional pressure on him.
For Messi, the pitch has long been a place where he can communicate without words. Amid grief, it now appears to be offering something else: familiarity, routine and a temporary escape from the loss he is still processing.
Jorge Messi played a defining role in that journey. He helped guide his son through the early stages of his career and remained closely involved as Messi moved from Rosario to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and eventually Inter Miami.
Now, Messi is trying to navigate the final stages of his career without the person who had been beside him for much of that journey.
Hoyos’ assessment suggests that, for the moment, football is giving Messi somewhere to find his footing.
“He looks good,” Hoyos said. “And at peace.”
