Lionel Messi Emotional Return vs Club León | MESSI IS BACK! 🐐 | 12/08/2026

How much of a distraction could he potentially be for those on the field right now? I think, if anything, you're feeling the emotion, past week or two at least, for this team and what they've gone through supporting their team-mate. Nobody knew when he was going to return. Of course, the club supported him to allow him the time to make the decision, to breathe. But here, back in the stadium, you can already hear everybody is just... Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, funeral was in Rosario on Sunday. What he went through in the World Cup, he felt like he was playing for his father and sometimes coming back to the game that you love. Oh, Messi straight away! Goalkeeper spills it. Bright and able. He nearly had a moment of magic instantly from Messi. That's what they connected on, always. That's what they shared. Rodrigo de Paul. Messi lets it run. Segovia. It's a really good opening again for... Into Miami. It does go behind for the first corner of the second half. Bright and able to combine on that particular moment. Here's Lionel Messi, though. Lionel Messi. And Messi let fly of Noah Allen. Allen towards the cusp. Nearly fell to Messi. Spangled away. And in goes a traditional central midfielder. As Messi comes back to play. Just the eight goals and four assists in eight World Cup games in the summer. Can he add to Miami's numbers here? In it comes. Casemiro. So can Messi turn Dravard in? Seven assists thus far in the MLS campaign. Over to the far side it goes. De Paul. In it comes from the Argentine. Garcia got enough of it. Back in from Wentz. And towards goal. It goes and in. Yannick Bred the goal scorer this time for Into Miami. Who insists they aren't going anywhere without a fight. ...on an island in the beginning of this match. Just all alone. Unable to create against those Into Miami back lines in the second half. It's been a completely different picture for them. Like in the Miami Academy and also scouts internationally. It was supposed to be with the U-20s. And it's too important right now. A yellow card for descent a moment or two ago. It's Leo Messi. Hands it forward for Plumback. Plumback wins it back. Messi. Rodrigo De Paul. Combining with Messi. Leo Messi tries to go across the face. And it goes behind for a corner. See the intricate passing in. The two Argentines. De Paul. Player. Here come Miami again. Very nearly fell to Leo Messi. Not this time though. Here come Miami again. Messi. Leo Messi. Through the crowd. And Regulon. An admiration for Messi. So the angle changed for Into Miami. And it comes to the back post. Into Miami. But first we will have a cooling break. Really good for them. These last 20 minutes to see if they can find the difference. So in round 3. I think the bigger question is really what does Gandalfi do. And I like the way they have approached this second half. Even though they are on level terms. They are now turning into a desperate search. For a way back into the contest here. Casemiro. Plumback. Messi. Trying to play through into the run of Regulon. Messi but he spotted something to say. That Garcia was going to be just a bit off his line. And he was going to have a go of it. Unable to combine with Breit. The deflection. Provider this time. Myriad of maybes await the service. He goes for goal himself. Well we have seen. Hopefully for Into Miami it didn't. Messi. Into Leo Messi. Rodrigo to Paul into the wide areas. Plumback. Cross it comes. Regulon. Just unable to provide the necessary conviction at the vital moment. He does. Here he is again. Combined with Yannick Breit. To Miami though on this occasion unable to force a way through. Look at the way he shifts and moves things around the field. So here is to Paul. Messi. Miami in need of something from him. Will they get something from him? Messi executing the effort. It's another really good play. Rebiking this time. Saw the last one. He went for the Olimpico. So you have to stay on his line here. Messi's ball in. To the far post. He picks it out perfectly. Here come Miami again. And it comes from the right hand side. As Casemiro brings it forward. Breit. Messi. Regulon. Just unable to score. Plumback. Messi. Rodrigo to Paul and fly. It falls now to Messi. Routine save for Garcia. After he passes this ball. It comes. Garcia there to clear. Only as far as Leo Messi. Back into the danger zone. Luan. That's by Garcia. Messi. Rodrigo to Paul. Trying to scoop it. Messi.