Lionel Messi marked his return to Inter Miami’s starting lineup in emphatic fashion, scoring twice and providing an assist as the MLS side defeated Atlético San Luis 4-2 to kick off their Leagues Cup campaign on a winning note.
Making his first club appearance since the World Cup, the Argentine captain was at the heart of Inter Miami’s attacking display, directly contributing to three of the team’s four goals.
Messi opened the scoring in the 11th minute before setting up Tadeo Segovia for Miami’s second goal in the 26th minute. He completed his brace in the 44th minute, while Micael added a fourth deep into first-half stoppage time to hand the hosts a commanding lead.
Atlético San Luis had taken an early lead through D. Rodríguez in the fourth minute, and R. Llorente pulled another goal back in the 51st minute, but the visitors were unable to stop Javier Mascherano’s side from opening the tournament with all three points.
Beyond inspiring Inter Miami to victory, the night also saw Messi reach another extraordinary milestone. His brace took his career goal tally to 921, while his assist lifted his total to 419 career assists, further underlining the consistency that has defined his remarkable career over nearly two decades.
The victory gives Inter Miami the perfect start to their Leagues Cup campaign, with Messi once again reminding the football world why he remains one of the game’s greatest ever players.
