Inter Miami eliminated from 2026 Leagues Cup first phase despite Lionel Messi’s return
Even though Lionel Messi made his return to the team, Inter Miami ended up being eliminated from the 2026 Leagues Cup in the first phase. Inter Miami entered Matchday 3 of the 2026 Leagues Cup requiring a victory and a favorable slate of out-of-town results across MLS to stay alive in the tournament. However, despite Lionel Messi making a surprise return to the pitch, the Herons suffered an early exit from the competition following one of the most grueling opening-stage finishes in recent history. On Wednesday, Miami hosted Club Leon needing a decisive win to climb into the top four of the standings, holding just three points following a 4-2 victory over Atletico San Luis and a tight 2-1 loss to CF Monterrey. Ultimately, the Mexican side proved superior at Nu Stadium, handing the Herons a devastating home defeat to end their campaign. Miami drew first blood when 19-year-old Daniel Pinter netted the opening goal in the 42nd minute. Club Leon pulled level through Daniel Arcila in the 50th minute, but Yannick Bright restored the host side’s lead just three minutes later. However, the visitors completed an impressive second-half comeback, as Juan Dominguez leveled in the 61st minute before Arcila completed his brace in the 83rd minute to seal a 3-2 victory. The primary highlight of the night for Inter Miami was the unexpected return of Messi following his brief leave of absence. Included among the substitutes, the Argentine superstar entered the match at halftime in place of Pinter, drawing a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd at Nu Stadium. We missed you, Messi. Welcome back. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/WE83EqfBx4— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 13, 2026 Having missed the previous fixture against Monterrey following the passing of his father, during which he traveled to Argentina, Messi completed a rapid turnaround back to Florida after spending private time with his family. Arriving in Miami on Wednesday morning, the team captain shocked fans by appearing on the official matchday roster before taking the field. Despite playing only the second 45 minutes, Messi immediately impacted the match’s tempo against Club Leon. While unable to find the back of the net or record an assist, the forward created consistent danger, firing five shots (three on target), completing two successful dribbles, and delivering four key passes to advance the attack. Worst Leagues Cup campaign for Inter Miami in Messi era Since Messi arrived at Inter Miami in July 2023, the Leagues Cup had served as a primary stage for the club’s domestic dominance. During their inaugural tournament run in 2023, the team swept through the bracket to lift the trophy, fueled by an extraordinary performance from Messi, who tallied 10 goals in seven matches. In the 2024 edition, the Herons were unable to defend their crown, falling in the Round of 16 against the Columbus Crew during a tournament Messi missed entirely while recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the 2024 Copa America final. In 2025, despite managing lingering injuries to feature in four matches (two goals, two assists), Messi helped lead the Herons back to the final before falling 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders. The 2026 campaign produced a far different outcome. Following an opening 4-2 victory over Atletico San Luis and back-to-back losses to Monterrey and Club Leon, Inter Miami were officially eliminated in the opening phase. Finishing 15th in the tournament standings with three points, seven goals scored, and seven conceded, the exit marks the worst Leagues Cup campaign in franchise history.
