Lionel Messi found the net for the first time since the death of his father, Jorge Messi, but his emotional goal was not enough to lift Inter Miami to victory as they were held to a 2-2 draw by the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer on Wednesday.
The Argentine superstar produced a moment of trademark brilliance in the 26th minute, curling a left-footed effort into the far corner to put Miami 2-1 ahead.
The celebration, however, carried a deeper meaning. Messi briefly smiled with his teammates before pointing toward the sky, his familiar tribute that took on added significance following his father’s death on August 8.
Messi had returned to club action after spending time in Argentina following the loss but had failed to score in Miami’s previous two matches. The team lost 3-2 to Mexican side Leon in the Leagues Cup before suffering a heavy 4-1 MLS defeat against Nashville, with Messi also missing a penalty in that game.
Against Philadelphia, Miami started brightly. Messi played a key role in the opening goal just five minutes before his own strike. He collected the ball on the left and found Luis Suarez, whose header created the opportunity for young American forward Daniel Pinter to finish from close range.
Philadelphia responded through Indiana Vassilev, who scored in the 11th minute, before Messi restored Miami’s advantage.
But the visitors could not hold on. Neil Pierre equalised in the 58th minute, leaving both sides with a point.
“We came to win but we couldn’t,” Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said after the match. He acknowledged that the result was disappointing but urged his players to recover quickly, with another league match against Toronto FC scheduled for Saturday.
The goal also moved Messi into second place in the MLS scoring standings with 13 goals. He remains three behind Dallas striker Peter Musa, who scored twice in Dallas’ 4-3 victory over Real Salt Lake.
For Miami, the draw extended a frustrating run. The club has now gone four matches without a win and sits seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville.
Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski continued his impressive start with Chicago Fire, scoring the winning penalty in a 2-1 victory over Antoine Griezmann’s Orlando City. Chicago secured a sixth consecutive win and moved into third place in the Eastern Conference.
The result leaves Miami searching for consistency, but Messi’s return to the scoresheet offered a powerful reminder that even during a difficult period, the Argentine remains capable of producing decisive moments on the biggest stage.
