Watch: De Paul scores stunner, reveals Messi’s No. 10 jersey in emotional tribute
Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul scored a goal and dedicated it to his teammate Lionel Messi by revealing a No. 10 jersey. The tribute followed the death of Messi's father, Jorge Messi, which caused the star player to miss the match.
Why it matters
The gesture highlights the close personal bond between high-profile athletes and the human side of professional sports during times of personal tragedy.
Rodrigo De Paul produced a moment of brilliance and an emotional tribute to his close friend Lionel Messi after scoring Inter Miami’s opener against Monterrey, revealing Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey beneath his own shirt.It was an emotional night for Inter Miami after the death of Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, who passed away in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68.Messi was absent from the Leagues Cup Group A clash as he returned to Argentina to be with his family following his father’s death. In his absence, De Paul stepped up with a goal that was both spectacular and deeply personal.De Paul’s stunning tribute to MessiDe Paul opened the scoring with a superb long-range effort, driving a low strike from outside the box into the bottom-left corner.The Argentina midfielder immediately sprinted towards the corner before taking off his Inter Miami shirt. Underneath was Messi’s famous No.
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