Lionel Messi scored a brace during Inter Miami’s opening match of the 2026 Leagues Cup, but his availability for Matchday 2 will not be possible following the recent passing of his father, Jorge. The No. 10 will not play against Monterrey at Nu Stadium tonight.
Michelle Kaufman, who covers Inter Miami for the Miami Herald, reported on X that Messi will travel to Rosario in the coming hours to reunite with his family. There, he will say a final goodbye to his father.
The Herons’ debut in the competition was highly promising, as they secured an important 4-2 victory at home against Atletico San Luis. Now, with the club mourning the loss suffered by Messi’s family, Inter Miami aim to get a victory for their captain.
Without Messi, Inter Miami’s predicted lineup against Monterrey today could look like this: Rocco Rios Novo; Ian Fray, Fricio Caicedo, Micael, Noah Allen; Yannick Bright, Casemiro, Rodrigo de Paul; Lovens Delinois, Daniel Pinter, Telasco Segovia.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF controls the ball during the Leagues Cup Phase One match.
Apart from Messi, the team will miss another key player in Luis Suarez, who is unable to play at the 2026 Leagues Cup due to the six-game suspension he received after a controversial ending to the 2025 final against Seattle Sounders.
German Berterame’s status for Inter Miami vs Monterrey
Argentine-born, naturalized Mexican forward German Berterame entered the concussion protocol during his MLS match against CF Montreal. Although he has shown significant physical improvement, Hoyos was unable to confirm whether Berterame will be available for Matchday 2 of the Leagues Cup against his former team.
“I would be lying if I said yes,” the manager said to the press. “Berterame is recovering and doing very well. Doing excellent. It gives us great joy to have him in the squad. He’s a great player who can give us important things. He took a very hard hit and all of us who were there were very scared that it was worse. So, we are just thankful to have him around.”
Germán Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF runs the pitch in the second half.
The record against Mexican teams
Since Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami have built a dominant record against Mexican opposition in the Leagues Cup, winning 8 of their 9 matches against Liga MX clubs alongside just a single defeat.
Driven by Messi‘s playmaking and clinical finishing, the Herons have consistently outperformed top Mexican sides in the tournament, establishing the fixture as one of their most reliable venues for success.
- vs Cruz Azul 2-1, 2023
- vs Puebla 2-0, 2024
- vs Tigres UANL 1-2, 2024
- vs Pumas UNAM 5-3, 2024
- vs Atlas 2-1, 2025
- vs Necaxa 2-2 (5-4), 2025
- vs Pumas UNAM 3-1, 2025
- vs Tigres UANL 2-1, 2025
- vs Atletico San Luis 4-2, 2026
When and where does Inter Miami vs. Monterrey take place?
Inter Miami take on Monterrey on Saturday, August 8, 2026, in the Leagues Cup group stage. The match takes place at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 PM local time (ET).
