Lionel Messi returned to action for Inter Miami on Wednesday, but his comeback ended in a 2-3 defeat to Club Leon in the Leagues Cup, according to detikSport. The loss eliminated The Herons from the group stage of the competition.
Messi had been absent from the squad following a period of personal mourning, detikSport reports. His return was not enough to prevent Inter Miami from suffering a surprise early exit, as noted by Goal.com. The result also featured a notable moment when a Leon defender lifted Messi off the pitch after blocking a goal-scoring attempt, as covered by CNN Indonesia.
Inter Miami's defeat means they failed to advance past the group phase of the 2026 Leagues Cup. Goal.com's recap highlighted that while Columbus Crew remained in contention, several Liga MX teams, including Leon, delivered strong performances in the tournament's opening round. The match drew additional attention because of Messi's absence in the buildup, with mediata.id noting that his status was a key storyline before kickoff.
The loss marks a disappointing end to Inter Miami's Leagues Cup campaign, particularly given the expectation surrounding Messi's return. With the group stage now over for The Herons, attention shifts to their upcoming league fixtures and whether Messi can help the team refocus after this early cup exit.
