Inter Miami coach sends emotional message to Messi

Messi has stepped away from Inter Miami to go back to Argentina to mourn his father, and coach Guillermo Hoyos admits the team is experiencing a profound loss.

Inter Miami is going through difficult days as Lionel Messi temporarily leaves the team to return to Argentina for his father's funeral. Coach Guillermo Hoyos admits this is a huge loss that is not easy to overcome.

The passing of Jorge Messi has led Messi and his family to return to Rosario to arrange the funeral and say goodbye to his father. During this time, Inter Miami also has to play without their Argentine captain.

Speaking before the final group stage match of the 2026 Leagues Cup against León, coach Guillermo Hoyos could not hide his emotion when mentioning Messi's situation. The manager said that the pain the Argentine striker is experiencing cannot be easily put into words. “It is a tragedy and a very great pain. We deeply feel this loss alongside Leo. This is truly an extremely difficult time.” Hoyos shared.

Inter Miami's coach also emphasized that in such moments, there is no specific formula for a person to quickly overcome the pain. According to him, time is the most important factor and Messi needs to be allowed to be with his family. “There are times when words cannot express emotions. When going through such great pain, the recovery process requires a lot of time. No one truly knows how to face it because the pain is so deep.” Hoyos added.

While Messi returns to Argentina, Inter Miami faces pressure on the pitch. Hoyos's team just suffered a defeat against Rayados, which makes their chances of advancing to the Leagues Cup quarterfinals fragile.

Inter Miami will close the group stage with a match against León. This is a match where the pink-clad team must strive for a positive result if they want to keep their hopes of advancing deep in the tournament alive.

After that, Inter Miami will turn their attention to the clash against Nashville. This match is anticipated not only for its professional significance but also because fans are particularly interested in when Messi might return to the squad after the family tragedy.