Messi Is Back — And He Scored Twice: Inter Miami 4–2 Atletico de San Luis

2026-08-07

Messi 4–2: The Full Story

Lionel Messi scored a stellar pair of goals to guide his team to a come-from-behind 4-2 rout of Atlético de San Luis in its first game of the 2026 Leagues Cup.

Come-from-behind. Of course it was. This is Messi's Inter Miami — the team that seems to be allergic to comfortable victories.

Lionel Messi will start. The Argentine returned from the World Cup off the bench in Inter Miami's 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew last weekend, and coach Guillermo Hoyos handed him his first start since the tournament, alongside Rodrigo De Paul, who is also in the lineup after working his way back from international duty.

The confirmed starting XI: Ríos-Novo; Caicedo, Fray, Silva, Allen; Bright, Casemiro, De Paul, Segovia; Messi, Pinter.

The Match

Inter Miami fell behind early — 2-0 down at some point in the first half. The Leagues Cup is not for the faint-hearted. But Messi, 39 years old and playing his first competitive start since logging 740 minutes at the World Cup, did what Messi does.

Two goals. A 4-2 win. The Leagues Cup campaign off to the start Miami needed, and a statement to every other team in the tournament that the World Cup final loss has not diminished the man one iota.

Messi has thrived in the Leagues Cup — after 11 matches played since he joined the club in 2023, he has scored 12 goals and provided three assists. Make that 14 goals in 12 Leagues Cup appearances now.
LEAGUES CUP 2026 · INTER MIAMI · AUGUST MESSI IS BACK — AND HE SCORED TWICE

What Comes Next

Inter Miami, champions in 2023, is among 18 MLS clubs that will compete with 18 Mexican clubs trying to bring the trophy to Mexico for the first time. The tournament runs August 4–September 6.

Inter Miami enters as the reigning runners-up, having fallen 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders in last year's final match. With Messi back, healthy, and already scoring in his first start, the Herons look every bit like a team with unfinished business.

Upcoming group stage matches:

Date Match Venue
August 8 · 8pm ET Inter Miami vs CF Monterrey Nu Stadium, Miami
August 12 · 7:30pm ET Inter Miami vs Club León Nu Stadium, Miami

One note: Luis Suárez is unavailable for the entire tournament, serving the first match of a six-game Leagues Cup suspension stemming from his conduct in last year's final against Seattle Sounders. Messi carries the attack without his longtime strike partner — and did so with two goals on his first start back.

The World Cup Rewatch — The Moments That Led Here

While Messi is writing his MLS chapter, the World Cup moments that defined this summer are worth revisiting — especially for the millions of new American fans who discovered football through this tournament and are now following Messi into the Leagues Cup.

The Moments That Will Last Forever

The Hat-Trick vs Algeria (Group Stage) — Messi's opening salvo. Three goals in the first match. The record-breaking began immediately.

The Penalty Miss vs Egypt — Then the Equalizer — Down 0-2 with 11 minutes left, Messi missed a penalty, then scored off a rebound to make it 2-2. Romero won it in extra time. Argentina were never really going to lose.

The 20th All-Time World Cup Goal vs Austria — Breaking his own record. For the first time in history.

The 21st Goal vs Egypt — A lashed shot off the crossbar and in. The record extended. The world watching.

Two Assists vs England, Both After the 85th Minute — Enzo's curler. Lautaro's header. Messi didn't score. He didn't need to. Argentina are in the final.

The Final — Spain 1-0 in extra time. Emi Martínez's 11 saves couldn't hold it. Ferran Torres' volley in the 106th minute. Messi's last World Cup match ended in the cruelest possible way.

And then, 17 days later, he was back at Nu Stadium in pink and black, scoring twice in his first start.

The Jersey: Why Messi's Inter Miami Kit Is The One To Own Right Now

For fans who watched the World Cup and want to keep following Messi's story, the Inter Miami jersey is the only jersey in the world where you can watch him play live, in person, every week — in the United States.

The World Cup blue and white stripes are now a collector's piece. The pink and black Inter Miami jersey is where the next chapter is being written.

Messi's Leagues Cup record with Inter Miami: 14 goals in 12 appearances. He is not slowing down.

Shop the Inter Miami CF Messi #10 Jersey →

How to Watch the Rest of the Leagues Cup

  • Apple TV+ — All Leagues Cup matches stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV+
  • August 8: Inter Miami vs CF Monterrey · 8pm ET · Nu Stadium, Miami
  • August 12: Inter Miami vs Club León · 7:30pm ET · Nu Stadium, Miami

The Bigger Picture

The 2026 summer has delivered one of the greatest sports stories in recent American history. A World Cup on home soil. Messi's record-breaking farewell at the international level. And now, three weeks later, he's back in Miami scoring twice in a come-from-behind Leagues Cup win.

This is not a wind-down. This is Messi in his final season, playing with everything he has.

The Inter Miami jersey is the front seat to the last chapter.

Browse the full Inter Miami collection at JerseyFun →

Published: August 5, 2026. Final score: Inter Miami 4–2 Atletico de San Luis. Messi: 2 goals, first start post-World Cup. Next match: Inter Miami vs CF Monterrey, August 8, 8pm ET, Nu Stadium, Miami. Leagues Cup runs through September 6.

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