Lionel Messi goals help Inter Miami start Leagues Cup in rout

Lionel Messi Goals Help Inter Miami Rout Atlético de San Luis in Leagues Cup Opener Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to Inter Miami CF, scoring two stellar goals to guide his team to a 4-2 comeback victory over Atlético de San Luis in their Leagues Cup opener at DRV PNK Stadium in Miami on Wednesday. The visitors took an early lead in the fourth minute when David Rodriguez's glancing header beat Rocco Ríos Novo, but Inter Miami quickly responded. Messi scored an exquisite volley, redirecting Noah Allen's cross from the left flank while running at full speed. The goal marked Messi's second game back for the club since Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain. "He struck the ball out of the air," Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said of Messi's first goal. "Those of us who have played football know what it takes to find the time and space to connect, meeting a cross coming from left to right and hitting it cleanly on the volley with his left foot. If we were talking about painting, it would be Picasso." With Luis Suárez serving the first game of a six-match ban for spitting on a Seattle Sounders FC staffer after the 2025 Leagues Cup final, Messi's return was a welcome boost for Inter Miami. Suárez, who has seven goals in the past four matches, will miss the entire Leagues Cup tournament due to the ban. Allen earned his second assist of the game midway through the first half, playing a lovely through ball to Telasco Segovia, who powered a shot into the back of the net. Messi also picked up an assist on the goal. Miami's third goal of the first half came courtesy of Messi's second strike of the night. Allen set up his team captain in the center of the area, where he tiptoed through two defenders and buried a close-range strike past Andrés Sánchez. "If Messi plays on the counter, he's the best; if you sit deep and give him too much time on the ball, he's also the best," San Luis coach Diego Mejía said. "So, my decision was for us to stick to our identity. We look at the bigger picture, of course, but we're talking about the greatest player in history." The goal made Messi the leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14 goals, one ahead of LAFC's Denis Bouanga. It also marked Messi's fifth multigoal game in 12 career League Cup games. Micael outjumped his defender on a corner kick and headed home to give Inter Miami a 4-1 lead at the break, effectively ending San Luis's hopes of a comeback. The second half was marked by a weather delay due to heavy rains, but San Luis could not find a way back into the game despite some good chances down the stretch. Rafa Llorente cut into the Miami lead with a screamer, but Inter Miami held on for the 4-2 victory. Miami's Mateo Silvetti, who came on as a second-half substitute, left the game in the 83rd minute clutching his left arm after picking up a shoulder injury. "He [Silvetti] had dislocated his shoulder. We're sending him a big hug and wishing him a speedy recovery from the pain; a shoulder injury is incredibly painful," Hoyos said. Inter Miami's next Leagues Cup game is Saturday against Monterrey, while San Luis plays Nashville SC on Sunday.