Lionel Messi ended his goal drought since the World Cup in dramatic fashion, finding the net twice as Inter Miami rallied to beat Atlético de San Luis 4–2 in the Leagues Cup. The 39-year-old veteran made a decisive impact, both scoring and setting up a key goal in a match that saw Miami overturn an early deficit and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.
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## A Night to Remember for Messi
Messi opened the scoring in the 11th minute after San Luis defender David Rodríguez headed them ahead. Rising to the occasion, Messi equalized later in the first half, finishing from close range. He struck again before halftime, and in stoppage time, assisted Micael’s headed goal—all before the break.
The match, played under the lights at DRV PNK Stadium, was delayed by thirty minutes in the second half after lightning struck nearby. Despite the weather interruption, the momentum remained firmly with the home side.
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## Milestones and Standout Performances
– **Scoring Resurgence:** These were Messi’s first goals since Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain.
– **Tournament Record:** With those goals, Messi now has 14 in 12 Leagues Cup matches—putting him one goal ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga for the most in tournament history.
– **Supporting Cast:** Beyond Messi, Telasco Segovia and Micael also scored for Miami. Defender Rafa Llorente contributed for San Luis, and Noah Allen racked up three assists.
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## Context: World Cup Return and Club Momentum
Messi rejoined Miami’s starting XI in just his second match following the World Cup, where he led Argentina to their second consecutive final before falling 1–0 to Spain.
His previous appearance came as a substitute in a 2–2 draw against Columbus Crew, where he played 37 minutes but didn’t score.
Inter Miami’s history in the Leagues Cup adds another layer: they won the tournament in 2023 soon after Messi’s arrival, then reached the final again in 2025—only to lose 3–0 to Seattle. That final ended with a controversial brawl involving Luis Suárez, whose six-match tournament suspension kept him sidelined in 2026.
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## Tactical Highlights and Turning Points
Despite falling behind early via Rodríguez’s header, Miami’s composure showed. Messi’s 11th-minute equalizer ignited a shift in momentum. He doubled the lead with a close-range finish before halftime, then provided the assist for Micael’s stoppage-time header to make it 3–1 at the interval.
These pivotal moments set the tone for the second half, even if rain and lightning interrupted the flow. Miami dominated possession, built pressure, and didn’t allow San Luis much chance to recover.
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## What This Win Means Moving Forward
With this result, Inter Miami:
– **Strengthens Tournament Credentials:** Leading the historical scoring charts in the Leagues Cup and maintaining an 8-match unbeaten streak puts them among the favorites.
– **Shows Messi’s Resilience:** Breaking his goal drought demonstrates both quality and confidence. It also underscores his strong influence in crucial games.
– **Builds Momentum for the Season Ahead:** Solid performances from Messi and young contributors like Allen and Micael offer promising signs. San Luis, meanwhile, showed resilience but ultimately couldn’t match Miami’s firepower.
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## Final Thoughts
Messi’s brace—punctuated by a crucial assist—ended his goalless spell since the World Cup and kept Inter Miami’s title hopes alive. His performance in this match goes beyond the goals themselves; it signals that even in the twilight of his career, the Argentine maestro remains capable of turning games around and elevating his team’s play. As the Leagues Cup progresses, all eyes will be on him to see whether this burst of form sparks another push for silverware.
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