Emerging
Published Aug 8, 2026Updated Aug 910
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De Paul honors Messi with number 10 tribute as Monterrey stuns Inter Miami 2-1
Inter Miami's Rodrigo De Paul scored and tributed absent teammate Lionel Messi by revealing his number 10 jersey during a Leagues Cup match against Monterrey on August 9, following the death of Messi's father, Jorge. Despite the emotional tribute, Monterrey defeated Inter Miami 2-1 with goals from Cuypers and Diego Rossi, ending Miami's unbeaten start to the tournament.
Quick Facts
- Leagues Cup 2026 group stage match
- De Paul scored opening goal
- De Paul revealed Messi's number 10 jersey in celebration
- De Paul received yellow card for shirt removal
- Cuypers scored equalizer from rebound
Rodrigo De Paul scored and paid tribute to absent teammate Lionel Messi during Inter Miami's Leagues Cup 2026 match against Monterrey on August 9, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami. De Paul opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a low long-range strike after receiving an assist from Casemiro. During his celebration, De Paul removed his shirt to reveal an Inter Miami jersey bearing Messi's iconic number 10, honoring the Argentine forward following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, aged 68. The display earned De Paul a yellow card from the referee.
Monterrey mounted a strong second-half comeback to secure a 2-1 away victory. Cuypers equalized in the 45th minute after capitalizing on a rebound from an Inter Miami goalkeeper save, and Diego Rossi scored the winning goal shortly afterward to complete the turnaround. The result marked Inter Miami's first loss in the tournament, ending an unbeaten run in the group stage. With one point from two matches, Inter Miami fell outside the top four of the MLS group standings, while Monterrey accumulated three points from their opening match after defeating Orlando City 2-1 in their first fixture.
Topics
Entities
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Lionel Messi
- Jorge Messi
- Casemiro
- Diego Rossi
- Cuypers
- Inter Miami CF
- CF Monterrey
- Nu Stadium
- Miami
Why This Matters
Inter Miami's first tournament loss alters their MLS group standings position, dropping them outside the top four with one point from two matches. Monterrey advances to three points from one fixture, affecting playoff qualification calculations in the Leagues Cup 2026 group stage. The match outcome reshapes both teams' path to knockout advancement and influences remaining fixture importance for group rivals.