Inter Miami CF defender Facundo Mura shared that the team is mourning the loss of Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, and has sent their condolences and support to their captain during this challenging time.
Jorge Messi passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68.
“We are profoundly impacted by this tragedy. We are standing with Leo from a distance during this tough period. We empathize with what he is experiencing and want him to know we are here for him,” Mura expressed on Tuesday.
“As individuals and as teammates, we are saddened by this situation. Whenever he feels ready to come back, we will be here to support him in every way possible,” Mura continued.
Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos remarked that the news has brought “great pain” to the locker room as the team navigates this difficult moment.
“We are aware of what has happened, and it is heart-wrenching—a source of significant pain that we have all felt deeply,” Hoyos stated. “It’s been incredibly tough. There are often no words to express it. Going through such a challenging experience makes it hard to recover, yet it is something we all have to face. In a way, we never truly learn from it because the hurt is so profound.”
To honor Jorge Messi, Inter Miami held a moment of silence before kickoff at Nu Stadium, displaying Jorge Messi’s name on screens throughout the venue. The players also wore black armbands in tribute.
During the 10th minute of the match, in honor of the number Messi wears on his jersey, fans chanted and waved flags showing their support for the Miami captain, including one that read “Fuerza [stay strong] Leo.”
Messi arrived in Rosario by plane on Saturday night, reportedly attending a private memorial service.
Hoyos did not provide details on when Messi would return to Inter Miami.
Inter Miami is set to face Club León on Wednesday in the final group stage match of the 2026 Leagues Cup tournament.