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· collected 2026-08-20 · by AFP
Lionel Messi scored his first goal since his father's death, a curling left-footed shot in the 26th minute, to give Inter Miami a brief lead over the Philadelphia Union in a 2-2 Major League Soccer draw. The game took place on Wednesday and marked Messi's return to action after two matches without scoring. With this goal, Messi moved into second place on the league's scoring chart with 13 goals, three behind Petar Musa of Dallas. After the match, Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos expressed disappointment at the draw, citing the team's need for rest before their next game in less than 72 hours.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Inter Miami since his father's death, pointing to the sky in tribute. The Argentine superstar netted a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner in the 26th minute, giving Inter Miami a 2-1 lead against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. This was Messi's first goal for the team since his father, Jorge Messi, died on August 8, at the age of 68. Inter Miami ultimately settled for a 2-2 draw with goals from Indiana Vassilev and Neil Pierre also contributing to the scoreline. After the game, Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos expressed disappointment at not winning, saying "We came to win but we couldn’t".
Written for “Lionel Messi's Emotional Goal” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 1621 · logged 2026-08-31
Lionel Messi scored his first goal since his father’s death, pointing to the sky in tribute, but Inter Miami had to settle for a 2-2 Major League Soccer (MLS) draw on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union.
asserted
Miami → score → Union
The Argentine superstar gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute with a trademark curling left-footed shot into the far corner.
asserted
superstar → give → corner
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asserted
he → rank → Rodri
After a restrained celebration with teammates, in which he allowed himself a brief smile, the Miami captain pointed his hands towards the sky over Philadelphia.
asserted
captain → allow → Philadelphia
Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father and agent, died on August 8, 2026, at age 68.
asserted
Messi → die → age
Messi was instrumental in Miami’s first goal just five minutes earlier as he picked up a run down the left flank from Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez, who headed the ball across for a close-range finish by young American Daniel Pinter.
asserted
who → pick → Pinter
The hosts secured a point thanks to goals from Indiana Vassilev in the 11th minute and Neil Pierre in the 58th.
asserted
hosts → secure → 58th
“We came to win but we couldn’t,” said Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos.
asserted
Hoyos → come → ?
“We’re not happy with the draw because we don’t like it, but now we need to try to rest and think about the next game, which is in less than 72 hours,” he added, referring to Saturday’s meeting with Toronto FC.
asserted
he → ’re → FC
Messi, 39, moved into second place on the league’s scoring chart with 13 goals, three behind Croatian Petar Musa, who scored two for Dallas in a 4-3 victory at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.
asserted
who → move → Wednesday
Miami’s talisman had failed to find the net in the two matches played since he returned from Argentina after the death of his father.
asserted
he → fail → father
In those two games, Miami lost 3-2 to Mexican side Leon, which eliminated them from the Leagues Cup, before enduring a 4-1 MLS defeat to Nashville in which Messi missed a penalty.
asserted
Messi → lose → penalty
Miami have now gone four matches without a victory and are seven points behind Eastern Conference leaders Nashville, who beat New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Wednesday.
asserted
who → go → Wednesday
