Messi Scores Twice, Becomes Leagues Cup's All-Time Leading Scorer

Lionel Messi scored his first two goals since the World Cup, leading Inter Miami to a 4-2 win over Atlético San Luis in the Leagues Cup. The match, played at Nu Stadium, was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning in the area.

Messi scored in the 11th and 44th minutes, taking his career scoring lead in the Leagues Cup to 14 goals in 12 matches. He surpassed Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, who has 13 goals in the tournament's history.

Telasco Segovia and defender Micael also scored for Inter Miami, while Noah Allen had three assists. The win extended Inter Miami's unbeaten streak to eight matches.

Messi returned to Miami's starting lineup in his second match since the World Cup, where he led Argentina to its second straight final appearance. He played 37 minutes as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

After being held off the scoresheet against Columbus, Messi quickly made an impact on Wednesday. He equalized after David Rodríguez put San Luis ahead with a header four minutes into the match. Messi finished from close range later in the first half and assisted on Micael's header in stoppage time.

Rafa Llorente also scored for San Luis. The match was marked by six goals and plenty of action, with Inter Miami ultimately emerging victorious.

Messi led Miami to the Leagues Cup title in 2023, shortly after his arrival with the club. Inter Miami reached the final again last year, losing 3-0 to Seattle in a match that ended with a brawl involving Luis Suárez.

Suárez, who has seven goals in the past four matches, was not available for Wednesday's match due to a six-match tournament suspension. The suspension resulted from a melee during last year's final, in which Suárez appeared to spit toward a member of the Sounders' staff and grabbed at least one Seattle player by the neck.

With Messi's two goals, Inter Miami is off to a strong start in the Leagues Cup. The team will look to continue its unbeaten streak in its next match.

The Leagues Cup is a tournament that features teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX. The tournament has been played annually since 2019, with Inter Miami winning the title in 2023.

Messi's performance on Wednesday was a reminder of his skill and dominance on the field. The 39-year-old player continues to be a key factor in Inter Miami's success, and his goals helped the team secure an important win in the Leagues Cup.

As the tournament continues, Inter Miami will face tough competition from other teams. However, with Messi leading the charge, the team has a good chance of making a deep run in the tournament.

In conclusion, Messi's two goals helped Inter Miami secure a 4-2 win over Atlético San Luis in the Leagues Cup. The win extended the team's unbeaten streak to eight matches, and Messi became the tournament's all-time leading scorer. With his continued strong performance, Inter Miami is a team to watch in the Leagues Cup.