Inter Miami coach on Leo Messi’s loss: “It’s immense grief... we’ve felt it deeply” - Florida News Beep

Just days after learning of his father’s passing, Lionel Messi stepped away from Inter Miami to travel to Rosario, Argentina, with his family. In his absence, the Herons suffered a second-round Leagues Cup loss to Rayados, severely jeopardizing their chances of reaching the quarterfinals. Depending on today’s match outcomes, Inter Miami could be mathematically eliminated before taking the pitch for tomorrow’s fixture against León.

Speaking to the media ahead of that final group stage match in the 2026 Leagues Cup, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos addressed Messi’s loss and offered an update on forward Germán Berterame, who is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a scary head collision.

Messi’s personal situation

“We all know what happened with Leo, and it is a tremendous tragedy,” explained head coach Guillermo Hoyos regarding the painful loss of Messi’s father.

“It’s immense grief, and we’ve felt it deeply right along with him. It’s been very tough, and times like this often leave you at a loss for words. When you go through something this painful, recovering takes time, but that’s a reality we all face. You never really learn how to deal with it because the pain is so deep,” he added.

Berterame’s return

“Berte is completely recovered,” Hoyos noted, indicating that the striker’s return to the pitch is drawing close. “We’re just waiting on the timeline set by the league, but we still have a few days ahead of us.”

Inter Miami now shifts focus to Wednesday’s Leagues Cup group stage finale against León, where they hope to stay alive in the race for one of Major League Soccer’s four quarterfinal spots. From there, attention turns to Saturday’s crucial match against Nashville, a high-stakes clash that could determine top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Inter Miami coach on Leo Messi’s loss: “It’s immense grief… we’ve felt it deeply”

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