Messi Braces as Inter Miami Beats Atlético de San Luis 4-2 in Leagues Cup Opener

Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided one assist to lead Inter Miami to a 4-2 victory over Atlético de San Luis in the 2026 Leagues Cup.

Inter Miami CF secured a 4-2 victory against Atlético de San Luis at Nu Stadium on Wednesday to open the 2026 Leagues Cup. Lionel Messi scored twice and provided an assist in his first start since returning from the FIFA World Cup. The visitors initially took a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute when David Rodriguez directed a glancing header past goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. Miami responded with an equalizer from Messi, who struck a left-footed volley off a cross from the left flank delivered by Noah Allen.

Noah Allen recorded a career-high three assists during the match. His second setup occurred midway through the first half, finding Telasco Segovia for a powerful strike that gave Miami a 2-1 advantage. Messi earned an assist on that play before scoring his second goal of the night to make it 3-1. For his brace, Messi navigated between two defenders in the center of the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Andrés Sánchez from close range. This second strike established Messi as the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14 goals, surpassing Denis Bouanga of LAFC.

Record-Breaking Performance and Tactical Dominance

Messi has now recorded five multigoal performances across 12 career Leagues Cup appearances. Prior to this start, he played 39 minutes as a substitute in a 2-2 MLS draw against Columbus. Guillermo Hoyos, the Miami coach, compared Messi’s aerial volley to a Picasso painting, noting the difficulty of connecting with a cross moving from left to right. San Luis manager Diego Mejía opted to maintain his team's identity rather than sitting deep, despite describing Messi as the greatest player in history.

Miami extended their lead to 4-1 before halftime when Micael outjumped his marker on a corner kick to head the ball home. Although Rafa Llorente narrowed the deficit for San Luis with a long-range "screamer" in the second half, the match was interrupted by a weather delay caused by heavy rain. Play eventually resumed, but the visitors could not capitalize on late scoring opportunities.

Roster Updates and Injury Concerns

Inter Miami played without striker Luis Suárez, who began serving a six-match suspension. The ban was issued after Suárez spat on a Seattle Sounders FC staff member following the 2025 Leagues Cup final. The Uruguayan, who had scored seven goals in his previous four matches, will miss the entirety of the 2026 tournament. Miami also lost substitute Mateo Silvetti in the 83rd minute due to a dislocated left shoulder. Hoyos confirmed the severity of the injury following the match, noting the intense pain associated with the dislocation.

Before his departure for the World Cup in May—where Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain—Messi had guided Miami to four consecutive victories to maintain a high position in the MLS Eastern Conference. Miami previously won the Leagues Cup title in 2023. The club continues its tournament schedule this Saturday against Monterrey, while Atlético de San Luis is slated to face Nashville SC on Sunday.