Lionel Messi vs Club Leon | Messi Returns! 🖤❤️ | 12/08/2026

Lionel Messi is back, knowing only a win of a considerable margin. Of course, nobody in world football expected he would be here today, his father only passing away several days ago, the funeral was on Sunday in Rosario, Argentina. The flight from Rosario to Miami, by the way, between 12 and 14 hours, but yet here he is, Lionel Messi available on the bench for Inter Miami. Speaking a little bit earlier on about how much he would obviously make an impact here today, but I wonder, Kylian Mbappe, how much of a distraction could he potentially be for those on the field right now? I think, if anything, you're feeling the emotion the past week or two, at least, for this team and what they've gone through. Nobody knew when he was going to return. Of course, the club supported him to allow him the decision to grieve. In the stadium, you can already hear it. Across world football was the death of Lionel Messi's father, Jorge. Funeral was in Rosario on Sunday. Lionel Messi took a flight over the course of the last day or two from Rosario. As we said earlier on, it's between 12 and 14 hours to get to Miami from Rosario. And against all the expectations, Lionel Messi now here, available and ready to play for Inter Miami. About his father and what he went through in the World Cup, he said it felt like he was playing for his father and sometimes coming back to the game that you love. Oh, Messi straight away. Goalkeeper spills it. Bright and able. He had a moment of magic instantly from Messi. That's what they connected on, always. That's what they shared. That's where... Rodrigo to Paul. Messi lets it run. Segovia. It's a really good opening again. On the field, you want to do your absolute best as Messi comes back to play. Just the eight goals and four assists in eight World Cup games in the summer. Can he add to Miami's numbers here? In it comes. Casemiro showed the most interest. Leon able to repel for now. Here is Messi. Ten La Liga titles. Played more of the natural nine position. Menga is a traditional central midfielder but Dibé can be in doubt of it. He's in for the Liga MX side. Here's Lionel Messi. That's a lovely ball into the path. Allen towards the cusp. Nearly fell to Messi. Spangled away for now by Claude Lyon. Segovia and Breit are able to combine on that particular moment. Here's Lionel Messi though. Lionel Messi. And Messi let fly. Charged down by... Covering Romagna for Claude Lyon. Messi turned provider here. Seven assists thus far in the MLS campaign. Over to the far side it goes. And up and over this time. But behind for another corner. More than anything for Arcelo. We saw him on an island in the beginning of this match. Just all alone. Unable to create against those Termini back lines in the second half. It's been a completely different picture for them. Kane to match the pass from Leo Messi. Player. Here come Miami again. Very nearly fell to Leo Messi. Guevara. Last goal for the club in the victory against Orlando of course. Now wins a free kick. Much to his dismay. There's a prospect they really like in the Miami academy. And also scouts internationally. He was supposed to be with the U-20s. And it's too important right now. Daniel Arcelo has received a yellow card for descent a moment or two ago. And there's Leo Messi. Two forward for Plambeck. Gathered by Oscar Garcia. Interchanging combination play. Intricate passing. It almost pays off for them. On the other end. Messi combining with Plambeck. Who provides the wrong pass it seems. Here come Miami again. Messi. Leo Messi. Through the crowds. And Reguilón had a goal. Fabulous challenge. Plambeck wins it back. Messi. Rodrigo de Paul. Combining with Messi. Leo Messi tries to go across the face. And it goes behind for a corner. See the intricate pass admiration for Messi. So the angle changed for Inter Miami. So another change on the horizon for Inter Miami. But first we will have a cooling break. I feel really good for them these last 20 minutes. To see if they can find the difference. So in round three of phase one. Does Gundolfi do. And I like the way they've approached this second half. Even though they're on level terms. They're not just sitting back in the low block. And waiting for that moment for the other teams to. And what is now turning into a desperate search. For a way back into the contest here. Here's Frey. Done from him. It's Frey looking to go all the way. The knee turn provider this time. A myriad of maybes await the service. He goes for goal himself. Now we've seen just about everything from Lionel Messi. That would have been astonishing. Here he is again. Messi's ball in. This time the goalkeeper. Well. Leo Messi. Never ceases to amaze. You just have to wonder. The mind of Messi. But he spotted something to say that. Garcia was going to be just a bit off this line. He was going to have a go of it. Unable to combine with Bright. The deflection. Casemiro. Klumbach. Messi. Trying to play through into the run of Reguilon. Could go anywhere off anybody. And bounce back in. Luckily for Inter Miami it didn't. Messi. Just doing what he does. Here he is again. Combined with Yannick Bright and co. To Miami though on this occasion. Unable to force a way through. Look at the way he shifts and moves things around the field. It's always. Into Leo Messi. Rodrigo to Paul. Into the wide areas. Klumbach. Of course it comes. Reguilon. Just unable. To provide the necessary conviction at the vital moment. Here's to Paul. Messi. Miami in need of something from him. Will they get something from him? Messi executing the effort. It's another really good piece of defending. Well the last one he went for the Olimpico so. You have to stay on his line here. Messi's ball in. Cleared away by Cambindo. From to the far post he picks it out perfectly. Here come Miami again. And it comes from the right hand side. Bovera wants more there to repel. As Casemiro brings it forward. Bright. Messi. Reguilon. Just unable to squeeze it through this time and. Klumbach. Messi. Rodrigo to Paul in flight. It falls now to Messi. Routine save for Garcia. Just always seems to find where the ball is going to drop. Takes that first touch. So Rodrigo to Paul over the ball. And it comes. Garcia there to clear. Only as far as Leo Messi. Back into the danger zone. Luan. That's by Garcia. Messi. Rodrigo to Paul. Trying to scoop it over. Gandolfi and Claveleon. Here's Leo Messi. Lovely angle ball forward for Bright. Across the face he goes. Picked up and away by Bovera. And it does seem as though to Paul will take it. Into the path of Leo Messi it goes. Messi. And with that goes the final whistle. Claveleon march on to the knockout stage. In some style.