Inter Miami Lose 2-1 to Monterrey as De Paul Pays Tribute to Messi

Messi missed the match after returning to Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier Saturday. His absence was felt both on and off the pitch as Inter Miami's players wore black armbands and a moment of silence was held before kick-off.

The defeat ended Miami's eight-game unbeaten run and left the MLS side in a difficult position heading into its final group-stage match against León on Wednesday.

Rodrigo De Paul Scores and Honors Messi

Rodrigo De Paul provided one of the night's most emotional moments when he opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the 32nd minute.

The Argentina international collected the ball outside the penalty area before firing a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner to put Miami ahead.

De Paul, who wore the captain's armband in Messi's absence, then removed his shirt to reveal Messi's No. 10 jersey underneath.

He pointed toward the back of the shirt as the crowd responded, creating a powerful tribute to his close friend and Argentina teammate.

De Paul was subsequently booked for excessive celebration.

Inter Miami supporters also showed their support for Messi, with La Familia displaying a "Fuerza Leo" banner and chanting his name throughout the match.

Monterrey Fight Back After Half-Time

Inter Miami entered the break with a 1-0 advantage, helped by several important saves from goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

Rios Novo denied Orbelín Pineda twice before half-time, keeping Miami ahead despite Monterrey creating dangerous opportunities.

The visitors eventually found an equalizer shortly after the restart.

Hugo Cuypers, who joined Monterrey after leaving the Chicago Fire, finished to make it 1-1 and give the Mexican side renewed momentum.

Cuypers had also scored Monterrey's goal in their previous Leagues Cup match against Orlando City.

Diego Rossi Delivers Late Winner

The match appeared to be heading toward a penalty shootout before Monterrey produced a decisive moment in the 90th minute.

Former MLS forward Diego Rossi capitalized on weak defending from Inter Miami and slipped the ball into the net to complete Monterrey's comeback.

The late goal condemned Miami to its first defeat since May 2 and left the club with only three points from its opening two Leagues Cup matches.

Messi's Absence Leaves Miami Short Up Front

Messi's absence was particularly significant because Inter Miami were already dealing with several attacking problems.

Luis Suárez was suspended, while German Berterame and Mateo Silvetti were unavailable through injury.

That forced Miami to field Daniel Pinter and 21-year-old Lovend's Delinois in attack.

Delinois, who was promoted from Inter Miami's second team, was given an opportunity in a difficult fixture as the club attempted to cope without several of its leading attacking options.

The lack of established firepower made it difficult for Miami to maintain pressure after taking the lead.

Monterrey Control More of the Match

The statistics reflected Monterrey's control after the opening stages.

Monterrey finished with 58 percent possession compared with Miami's 42 percent and registered six shots on target to Inter Miami's four.

Miami showed defensive resilience for long periods, particularly through Rios Novo, but struggled to maintain control as the match progressed.

The second-half equalizer shifted the momentum toward Monterrey, while the late defensive error allowed Rossi to complete the comeback.

Inter Miami Now Face Leagues Cup Pressure

The defeat leaves Inter Miami in a precarious position in the Leagues Cup standings.

Miami has three points after opening the tournament with a 4-2 victory over San Luis, but the loss to Monterrey puts greater importance on Wednesday's meeting with León.

Only the top four teams from each of the MLS and Liga MX tables advance to the quarterfinals.

Inter Miami therefore cannot afford another poor result if it wants to continue its pursuit of another Leagues Cup title.

The club won the competition in 2023 shortly after Messi's arrival in MLS and reached the final again in 2025, when it lost 3-0 to Seattle Sounders.

A Difficult Night for Inter Miami

The result was disappointing for Miami, but the circumstances surrounding the match made it an especially emotional occasion.

Messi's teammates attempted to support him through De Paul's goal celebration, the black armbands and the pre-match tribute, while supporters inside the stadium also made their feelings clear.

On the pitch, however, Miami could not hold onto its advantage.

De Paul's first-half goal gave Inter Miami the perfect start, but Cuypers' equalizer and Rossi's late winner turned the match around.

With their unbeaten run now over and qualification in the balance, Inter Miami must quickly recover ahead of Wednesday's decisive Leagues Cup fixture against León.

Inter Miami vs Monterrey: Key Details

• Result: Inter Miami 1-2 Monterrey
• Competition: Leagues Cup 2026
• Venue: Nu Stadium
• Inter Miami scorer: Rodrigo De Paul
• Monterrey scorers: Hugo Cuypers, Diego Rossi
• Lionel Messi: Missed the match after returning to Argentina following his father's death
• Inter Miami record: Three points from two matches
• Next match: León, Wednesday
• Possession: Inter Miami 42%, Monterrey 58%
• Shots on target: Inter Miami 4, Monterrey 6

What the Result Means for Inter Miami

Inter Miami's 2-1 defeat to Monterrey represents a major setback in its Leagues Cup campaign.

The team showed character by taking the lead through De Paul, whose celebration provided a touching tribute to Messi, but Monterrey's pressure eventually exposed weaknesses in Miami's defense.

Messi's absence, combined with Suárez's suspension and other attacking injuries, left Inter Miami with limited options going forward.

Now facing León in their final group-stage match, Miami must respond quickly if it is to keep its hopes of reaching the Leagues Cup quarterfinals alive.

SportsLigue