Messi scores twice as Inter Miami beat Atletico San Luis 4-2 in Leagues Cup opener

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami defeated Atletico San Luis 4-2 in their Leagues Cup opener at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday night. The match was Messi’s first club appearance after Argentina’s World Cup loss.

Just over two weeks earlier Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Having captained La Albiceleste through a gruelling tournament run, the 39-year-old turned his focus back to domestic silverware under torrential rain in Fort Lauderdale.

The game opened in heavy rain and pockets of waterlogging on the pitch made crisp passing difficult. Atletico San Luis pressed high early, forcing mistakes in Miami’s midfield as the visitors looked to exploit counter-attacking space.

Messi opened the scoring in the 18th minute after receiving a line-breaking pass from Sergio Busquets near the edge of the penalty area, drifting past two defenders on the slippery turf and curling a low strike into the bottom left corner beyond the reach of the diving goalkeeper.

San Luis drew level in the 31st minute when a deflected cross fell in the box for an easy tap-in. Inter Miami regained the lead just before half-time when Messi clipped a pass over the defence to Luis Suarez; Suarez squared for Robert Taylor, who finished to make it 2-1 at the interval.

Ten minutes after the restart Messi scored his second of the night, capping a fluid team move by combining with Jordi Alba down the left flank and arriving unmarked at the back post to side-foot a firm volley through the rain. San Luis reduced the deficit in the 78th minute following a set-piece scramble, but substitute Julian Gressel sealed the win in stoppage time by finishing a swift breakaway after Messi initiated the transition from deep inside his own half.

The 4-2 victory extends Inter Miami’s run in regional tournament play and ensured his side secured safe passage to the next round.