During a Leagues Cup match between Inter Miami and León, defender Jhohan Romaña made an unexpected gesture toward Lionel Messi. Following a corner kick play, Romaña approached the Argentine star and embraced him, catching Messi by surprise. The forward responded warmly to the spontaneous moment with a smile.
León acknowledged the emotional exchange through their official social media channels, sharing a meaningful message alongside the interaction. The Mexican club expressed their admiration for Messi, stating the gesture represented support from the team, the club, and the broader football community.
The encounter took place as Messi made his return to competitive action following a deeply difficult personal period. The star had recently traveled to his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, to mourn the loss of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at age 68.
Despite his emotional return to the pitch, Inter Miami’s campaign in the Leagues Cup group stage came to an end with a defeat to León, marking the team’s first elimination in the tournament’s opening phase since its expansion in 2023.
