Inter Miami Coach Discusses Messi's Absence and Team's Pain

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos says the dressing room is carrying “a huge shame” and “great pain” as the club deals with devastating news surrounding Lionel Messi.

“Regarding Leo, we know what happened, and it is a huge shame, a source of great pain, and we have really felt that impact,” Hoyos said, speaking to ESPN.

The Argentine coach described a group struggling to process the moment.

“It has been very hard. Often, there are no words for it. When you go through such a difficult experience, it is hard to recover, yet it is something we all face. In a way, we never truly learn from it because the pain is so intense.”

Hoyos refused to put any timeline on Messi’s return to the squad, making it clear the club will not rush their star back and will allow him all the time he needs to grieve.

With Messi absent, Inter Miami now have to split their focus: respect the weight of what their captain is going through, while somehow switching back into competitive mode. Their next test comes on Wednesday, when they face Club Leon in a group-stage clash in the 2026 Leagues Cup — a game that will unfold under a shadow that no tactics board can erase.