Lionel Messi scored an emotional goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami drew 2-2 against Philadelphia Union on Thursday. It was his first goal since the death of his father, Jorge, earlier this month.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF reacts after scoring against the Philadelphia Union during the first half at Subaru Park on August 19, 2026 (Getty Images via AFP)
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Messi's father, Jorge, died aged 68 on August 8 in Rosario, Argentina. He was also his son's longtime representative.
The Argentine legend, who returned to action last week, scored in the 26th minute at Subaru Park after shaking off his marker and curling a left-footed effort into the net. He immediately pointed to the sky in an emotional celebration.
The 39-year-old had earlier paid tribute to Jorge, describing him as his father, friend and representative and admitting that he did not know how to continue without him.
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The goal was Messi's 922nd in his career, his 70th in Major League Soccer (MLS) and his 13th of the season. It moved him to within one goal of Dallas striker Petar Musa in the race for the Golden Boot, which Messi won last season. He also has nine assists in 17 MLS appearances this season.
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The goal was Messi's 922nd in his career, his 70th in Major League Soccer (MLS) and his 13th of the season. It moved him to within one goal of Dallas striker Petar Musa in the race for the Golden Boot, which Messi won last season. He also has nine assists in 17 MLS appearances this season.
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It was also Messi's first goal since his 83rd-minute strike against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.
Messi's strike put Inter Miami 2-1 ahead before half-time. Earlier, his cross was headed into the path of forward Dániel Pintér by Luis Suárez, with Pintér finishing to give Miami the lead in the 21st minute. Philadelphia responded through Indiana Vassilev, who levelled with a volley.
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The Union restored parity in the 58th minute when 18-year-old defender Neil Pierre headed home his third goal in five games this season. Cavan Sullivan was credited with the assist on Vassilev's goal.
Four minutes later, Philadelphia thought they had taken the lead when forward Milan Iloski found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Miami went into the game looking to snap a three-match losing streak after defeats to a pair of Mexican clubs in the Leagues Cup. The draw extended their winless run but Messi provided the standout moments on his third appearance since returning from Argentina following his father's funeral.
He came on as a substitute in the August 12 loss to Leon, playing 45 minutes. He then started in the 4-1 defeat to Nashville, playing the full 90 minutes, missing a penalty, hitting the post twice and assisting Telasco Segovia's goal.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Sports/Football/Lionel Messi scores emotional first goal since father’s death, points to sky in poignant celebration for Inter Miami
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