Why did Lionel Messi miss Inter Miami vs CF Monterrey Leagues Cup 2026 match?

The Herons faced a 1-2 loss in Leagues Cup 2026 match!

Lionel Messi was absent from the pitch as Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami, locked horns with the Liga MX side, CF Monterrey, in what was a Leagues Cup 2026 fixture. This contest took place at the NU Stadium.

The Herons initiated their Leagues Cup campaign with a 4-2 win against San Luis. The performance could’ve been better as far as the defence is concerned, but in the end they emerged victorious and secured three important points.

The Guillermo Hoyos-led side were on a flying run of form until their 1-2 loss against Liga MX club CF Monterrey in the recent clash. Their efforts in the final third were not enough. Rodrigo De Paul was the sole goal scorer for Inter Miami. One of the most prominent names, Lionel Messi, was not part of the squad. What was the reason?

Also Read: Why did Lionel Messi return early for Inter Miami after World Cup final loss? Manager explains

Why did Lionel Messi miss out?

The Argentine great missed out on the Inter Miami vs CF Monterrey Leagues Cup 2026 match as he dealt with a deeply personal loss. Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, passed away at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, after battling a prolonged illness. The exact medical cause of death has not been specified.

Jorge Messi was quite an influential figure in Leo Messi’s life and football career.

Inter Miami came into the Leagues Cup contest without their captain and things did not end in their favour.

Messi scored a brace in their previous contest against San Luis, leading them to a 4-2 win. The 39-year-old has now scored 15 goals and has eight assists in 18 games for Inter Miami, including all competitions in 2026.

Notably, Luis Suarez was also missing, but the cause is still unknown. German Berterame is still recovering from a recent injury he sustained. The Herons came up with a two-striker setup of youngsters Daniel Pinter and Lovens Delinois, but their performance was not enough to get a win against CF Monterrey.

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