Lionel Messi Nets Emotional First Goal Since Father’s Death in Inter Miami’s Philadelphia Draw
Lionel Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge, finding the back of the net in Inter Miami’s 2-2 Major League Soccer draw against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Wednesday, August 20, 2026. The 39-year-old Argentine superstar delivered a trademark curling left-footed shot in the 26th minute to give Miami a short-lived 2-1 lead on a hot and humid night in Pennsylvania.
A Somber Celebration on the Pitch
Following the strike, Messi offered a restrained celebration with his teammates, allowing himself a brief smile before pointing upward toward the sky above Philadelphia. The moment marked a deeply personal milestone for the forward, whose father and longtime representative, Jorge, passed away at the age of 68 on August 8 in Rosario, Argentina. Last week, Messi shared an emotional tribute, admitting he struggled to comprehend how to continue playing without his father’s guiding presence.
Messi was instrumental throughout the opening half. Five minutes prior to his goal, he unlocked the Philadelphia defense by spotting a sharp run down the left flank from Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez. Suarez promptly crossed the ball into the box for a close-range finish by young American teammate Daniel Pinter. The sequence temporarily shifted momentum after the hosts opened the scoring 11 minutes into the match through Indiana Vassilev.
Securing the Point and Chasing the Golden Boot
Philadelphia refused to back down on their home turf. Defender Neil Pierre netted an equalizer shortly before the hour mark, capitalizing on defensive lapses to level the score at 2-2. Neither side managed to break the deadlock in the remaining minutes, forcing Inter Miami to settle for a single point.
Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos expressed frustration with the final result following the whistle. We came to win but we couldn’t,
Hoyos said, according to source reporting. 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.
Despite the dropped points, the result successfully ended a three-game losing streak for the squad. Furthermore, Messi’s 13th goal of the season elevated him into second place in the league’s scoring chart. He currently sits just three goals behind Dallas striker Petar Musa—who netted twice in a 4-3 victory over Real Salt Lake—in the race for the MLS Golden Boot, an award Messi claimed last season.
Looking Ahead to Toronto
Inter Miami faces a rapid turnaround as they prepare to host Toronto FC on Sunday morning (Hong Kong time). With the squad battling both fatigue and emotional exhaustion, Hoyos and his coaching staff face a rigorous recovery window to keep their campaign on track. As Messi continues to shoulder the immense weight of both his club responsibilities and his recent personal loss, the eyes of the football world remain firmly fixed on South Florida.
How do you think Inter Miami will manage their heavy fixture schedule heading into the weekend? Let us know your thoughts below.
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