Lionel Messi etched his name further into Leagues Cup history on Wednesday, scoring twice to become the competition’s all-time leading goalscorer as Inter Miami cruised past Atletico San Luis 4-2 in their opening group match of the 2026 edition.
The brace pushed Messi’s career tally in the tournament, which pits Major League Soccer clubs against sides from Mexico’s Liga MX, to a record 14 goals, adding another milestone to a competition he helped Miami win back in 2023 during his very first weeks with the club.
The match didn’t start in Miami’s favor, though. David Rodriguez put San Luis ahead just four minutes in, but Messi wasted little time responding, equalizing seven minutes later to level the score. Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia then put Miami in front for the first time in the 26th minute, giving the home side genuine control of the match.
Messi struck again right before halftime to extend the lead further, and Brazilian defender Micael added a fourth goal deep into first-half stoppage time, putting the match essentially out of reach before the break even arrived. Atletico San Luis’s Rafa Llorente pulled one back in the second half, but it amounted to little more than a consolation goal as Miami closed out the 4-2 win comfortably.
This performance continues what has been an eventful year for the 39-year-old Argentine. Messi captained Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, only to fall 1-0 in extra time to Spain in what was widely seen as his last major tournament with the national team. Despite the heartbreaking finish, Messi finished among the tournament’s standout performers, contributing eight goals and four assists across Argentina’s run, though he was largely contained in the final itself as Spain controlled the match from start to finish.
His return to club football got off to a rocky start. Inter Miami opened their 2026 MLS campaign with a 3-0 defeat to LAFC in front of a record-breaking crowd, before Messi found his rhythm again, scoring twice in a dramatic 4-2 comeback win over Orlando City that marked his first goals of the domestic season. Since then, Miami have built one of the league’s better away records, extending their unbeaten run on the road to seven matches, even as they continue searching for their first win at their new home venue, Nu Stadium.
Elsewhere in Wednesday’s Leagues Cup action, Dallas defeated Queretaro 2-0, while Leon secured a 1-0 win on the road against Nashville.
