The Argentine virtuoso returned to Inter Miami's starting lineup two and a half weeks after the World Cup final defeat and immediately became the Leagues Cup's all-time leading scorer.
Lionel Messi marked his first start since the World Cup in the best possible way, with two goals and an assist, he led Inter Miami to a 4-2 victory over Mexico's Atletico de San Luis in the Leagues Cup. The match, played on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami, confirmed that the Argentine legend has lost none of his magic.
Although the visitors took the lead through David Rodriguez, Messi responded quickly. In the 11th minute, he brilliantly reacted to a cross from Noah Allen and, with a left-footed volley on the run, scored the equalizer. That goal also delighted his coach, Guillermo Hoyos, who did not hide his admiration.
"He hit the ball out of the air. Those of us who have played football know what it takes to find the time and space to shoot, to meet a cross coming from left to right and cleanly volley it with the left foot. If we were talking about painting, that would be Picasso," Hoyos told ESPN.
After Telasco Segovia gave Miami the lead, Messi scored his second goal in first-half stoppage time, assisted by Allen. With that, he became the Leagues Cup's all-time top scorer with 14 goals, surpassing LAFC striker Denis Bouanga. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, he also set up Micael for a 4-1 lead.
Allen also had a night to remember, recording the first three assists of his career in a single match. The game was suspended in the 67th minute due to potential severe weather, but the final score remained 4-2.
Inter Miami secured the victory without Luis Suarez, who is serving a six-match suspension for spitting on a Seattle Sounders staff member during the 2025 Leagues Cup final. That ban means the Uruguayan will miss the entire tournament this year.
Despite Suarez's absence, Messi's return has given a huge boost to a team aiming to replicate the success of 2023, when Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup. The next test for "The Herons" comes on Saturday, when they face Mexico's Monterrey in the same competition.
