Argentine football icon Lionel Messi etched his name further into the history books on Wednesday after scoring twice to become the all-time leading goalscorer in the Leagues Cup, inspiring Inter Miami CF to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Atlético San Luis in their opening group-stage match of the 2026 tournament.
The two-goal performance took Messi’s tally in the competition to 14 goals, making him the highest scorer in the history of the Leagues Cup a tournament featuring clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) and Mexico’s Liga MX.
Fast-Paced Encounter
The visitors made a dream start to the contest, taking the lead in just the fourth minute through David Rodríguez, who stunned the home supporters with an early breakthrough.
Inter Miami, however, responded almost immediately, with Messi restoring parity just seven minutes later after finishing off a well-worked attacking move to make it 1-1.
The hosts continued to dominate proceedings and were rewarded in the 26th minute when Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia found the back of the net to give Miami a 2-1 advantage.
Messi struck again moments before the halftime whistle, extending Miami’s lead with his second goal of the night and his historic 14th in the competition.
Brazilian defender Micael then added a fourth goal deep into first-half stoppage time, capping an outstanding opening 45 minutes for Javier Mascherano’s side.
Visitors Pull One Back
Atlético San Luis improved after the restart and managed to reduce the deficit through Rafa Llorente, who scored the visitors’ second goal in the second half.
However, the Mexican side could not mount a comeback as Inter Miami comfortably held on to secure all three points and begin their Leagues Cup campaign with an impressive victory.
Messi Continues to Rewrite Records
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has transformed the club’s fortunes and was instrumental in helping the MLS side lift the 2023 Leagues Cup, their first major trophy.
With his latest brace, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has once again underlined his remarkable consistency, adding another milestone to an already illustrious career by becoming the competition’s most prolific scorer.
Other Leagues Cup Results
Elsewhere in Wednesday’s Leagues Cup action:
- FC Dallas defeated Querétaro FC 2-0.
- Club León secured a 1-0 away victory over Nashville SC.
The opening round of matches sets the stage for another exciting edition of the Leagues Cup as clubs from the United States, Canada and Mexico battle for regional supremacy.
