Lionel Messi has scored his first goal since his father's passing.
The score came in the 26th minute of Inter Miami CF's match against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Ian Fray tapped the ball to his right where the 39-year-old icon was waiting. Messi dribbled toward the center of the penalty box and then struck the ball into the left corner of the net. The goal put Inter Miami up 2-1.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner skipped and pumped his fist in celebration before high-fiving teammate Telasco Segovia. A group of his teammates then surrounded him in a huddled embrace.
Earlier in the match, Messi assisted Dániel Pintér for Inter Miami's first goal and Pintér's first MLS score.
Messi's father, Jorge, passed away on Aug. 8 at the age
of 68. Lionel missed that night's Leagues Cup match while mourning the loss of his father, who also served as his agent. Inter Miami paid tribute to Jorge by holding a moment of silence ahead of the match and showed a sign of solidarity with the Argentinian superstar with a chant in the 10th minute, his jersey number.
Messi returned to the club for their Aug. 12 Leagues Cup match against León and came off the bench in the second half.
His first two goals after the World Cup came in Inter Miami's 4-2 Leagues Cup win against Atlético de San Luis on Aug. 5.
In the World Cup, Argentina failed to defend its 2022 title and finishing second to Spain. Messi scored eight goals and became the tournament's all-time leading scorer, but was passed by Kylian Mbappé, who scored 10 goals for the overall record and the Golden Boot award.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lionel Messi scores first goal for Inter Miami since father's passing
