Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to Inter Miami’s starting XI, marking his first such appearance since the 2026 World Cup with a dominant performance. The Argentine superstar led his side to a 4-2 victory over Mexican club San Luis in their Leagues Cup clash, contributing two goals and a precise assist to secure the win.
With this brace, Messi has officially become the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Leagues Cup, reaching a total of 14 goals. He surpassed the previous record of 12 goals held by Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, set since the tournament’s revamped format began in 2023. Notably, Messi has achieved this milestone in just 12 tournament appearances, recording multi-goal games on five separate occasions.
The match began under pressure for Miami, as David Rodriguez put San Luis ahead just four minutes into the game. Messi responded in the 11th minute, connecting with a pass from Allen to score a stunning volley, marking his first club goal since the 2026 World Cup. Miami then took a 2-1 lead in the 26th minute through a goal by Telasco Segovia. Messi extended the lead to 3-1 in the 44th minute with a clinical finish inside the box, and just before halftime, he delivered a corner kick that Mikael headed home to make it 4-1.
Although Rafael Llorente pulled one back for San Luis in the 51st minute, the 4-2 scoreline held despite a half-hour delay caused by heavy rain in Florida. Following this successful start to their campaign, Inter Miami is set to face Mexican powerhouse Monterrey in their next tournament fixture on August 9.
