Making his first starting appearance since the World Cup, Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass to secure a resounding 4–2 victory for Inter Miami over Mexican outfit San Luis in the Leagues Cup. The Argentine icon notched a brilliant brace and provided an assist, reminding everyone of his unmatched quality on the pitch. This stellar performance followed a brief substitute appearance last Sunday in Major League Soccer against Columbus, a match that ended in a 2–2 stalemate without any goals from the legendary forward.
The morning fixture in Florida proved historic for more reasons than one. By netting twice, Messi officially became the all-time top scorer in Leagues Cup history. Since the tournament was revamped into its current format in 2023, he has amassed a total of 14 goals, surpassing the previous record held by Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga. Remarkably, achieving this milestone took Messi just 12 tournament matches, during which he has scored two goals in a single game on five separate occasions.
Despite the eventual triumph, Inter Miami endured a shaky start against their resilient Mexican opponents. San Luis stunned the hosts as early as the fourth minute when David Rodríguez capitalised on defensive laxity to break the deadlock. However, the deficit served as a wake-up call for the home side, prompting Messi to take centre stage. In the 11th minute, he met a precise cross from Allen with a stunning volley, restoring parity for the team. This marked his very first goal in an Inter Miami shirt following the 2026 World Cup.
Momentum quickly swung in favour of the Herons. Telasco Segovia found the back of the net in the 26th minute, putting Miami ahead 2–1. Just before the interval, Messi struck again. Capitalising on a loose ball inside the penalty area, he clinically slotted home his second goal of the match in the 44th minute, extending the lead to 3–1. The onslaught did not stop there; deep into first-half stoppage time, specifically the seventh added minute, Mikael rose highest to head home from a pinpoint corner kick delivered by Messi, wrapping up a dominant first half with a 4–2 scoreline.
The second half brought a shift in weather and tempo. Rafael San Luis reduced the deficit in the 51st minute by scoring a header to make it 4–2, offering a glimmer of hope for the visitors. Shortly after, torrential rain lashed across Florida, forcing the referee to halt proceedings for over half an hour. Once the pitch cleared and play resumed, San Luis pressed hard for a way back into the contest, but the Miami defence held firm, snuffing out any potential comeback.
With this impressive win, Inter Miami kick-started their Leagues Cup campaign in emphatic fashion. Javier Mascherano’s side will now turn their focus to their next fixture, where they are scheduled to face another Mexican powerhouse, Monterrey, on August 9.
