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
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