Messi dedicates first league goal since World Cup to his late father as Inter Miami draw 2-2 with Philadelphia
Messi scored in the 26th minute and raised his hands to the sky; Milan Iloski assisted Philadelphia’s equaliser and had a disallowed 62nd‑minute goal.
Inter Miami were held to a 2-2 draw by Philadelphia Union on 20.08.2026 as Lionel Messi scored his first league goal since the World Cup and visibly dedicated the strike to his recently deceased father.
Messi opened the scoring for 2-1 in the 26th minute with his trademark feint and left-foot shot into the far corner. After a muted celebration with team-mates he pointed his hands to the sky above the stadium.
Macedonian forward Milan Iloski played a decisive role for Philadelphia: he provided the assist that levelled the game at 2-2, and later appeared to score what would have been a 3-2 lead in the 62nd minute, only for the goal to be ruled out by the officials.
Match moment captured
Posted footage and social posts underlined the significance of Messi’s return to the scoresheet. One widely shared post read: "Leo Messi scores his first league goal since returning from the World Cup 💫 (via @MLS ) pic.twitter.com/SfnShlOnCR".
The draw leaves Inter Miami unable to turn Messi’s strike into three points, while Iloski — who supplied the equaliser — could have been the match hero had his 62nd-minute effort stood.
Photo: press material from the event
