De Paul & Inter Miami honor Messi family on emotional night
Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul paid tribute to Lionel Messi's late father, Jorge Messi, during a Leagues Cup match against Monterrey. The team wore black armbands to honor the passing of the elder Messi.
Why it matters
The gesture highlights the close personal bonds within professional sports teams and the human side of high-profile athletes during personal tragedies.
Copy URL Share on Facebook Share on X Playing with a heavy heart for his Inter Miami CF and Argentina teammate, Rodrigo De Paul paid tribute to Lionel Messi ’s late father on Saturday night.
De Paul struck a beautiful long-range shot in the 32nd minute to give Miami the lead in their Leagues Cup match against LIGA MX powerhouse Monterrey.
Upon scoring, the midfielder took off his jersey to reveal a Messi kit underneath his own before pointing at the No. 10 on his back.
Rodrigo De Paul strikes from distance for the opener and honors his friend Leo Messi and his family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/96GEG7XpMh
The touching gesture came hours after it was announced that Messi's father, Jorge Messi, passed away on Saturday at age 68 in Rosario, Argentina.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in