Inter Miami defeated Atlético San Luis of Mexico 4-2 in a match highlighted by a brace from Argentine star Lionel Messi, who maintained his exceptional form from the 2026 World Cup in the first half of the 2026 Leagues Cup.
In a match played at Miami Freedom Park, the home team secured the win with goals from Messi in the 10th and 43rd minutes of the first half, along with goals from midfielder Telasco Segovia in the 25th minute and a header from defender Micael in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Meanwhile, the Mexican side had taken an early lead in the third minute through a goal by striker David Rodríguez and pulled one back five minutes into the second half with a great strike from forward Rafael Llorente.
The victory left Inter Miami in second place in the U.S. zone of the tournament, whose first matchday is still underway and where the top four teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. San Luis finished in thirteenth place in the group of Mexican teams.
In the next matchday, the team captained by Lionel Messi will host Monterrey of Mexico on Saturday, August 8, at 9:00 p.m., while their opponent tonight will again be playing away, facing Nashville on Sunday the 9th, at the same time.
The first goal of the match came from the Mexican side after three minutes, with a cross from the right that was headed in by winger David Rodríguez, whose low, driven shot beat Argentine goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo.
The equalizer came from the Argentine star after 10 minutes, when he received a cross from the left flank by full-back Noah Allen and finished with a first-time left-footed shot that drifted away from goalkeeper Andrés Sánchez before finding the back of the net at the far post.
After 20 minutes, Messi received the ball outside the box, cut inside onto his left foot, and unleashed a shot that struck the right post of the Mexican goalkeeper.
The 2-1 goal came in the 25th minute, with a brilliant through ball from defender Micael to Allen, who surged down the left flank and delivered a cutback, this time for Telasco Segovia, who tapped it in.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, Messi combined with midfielder Yannick Bright outside the box, passed to Noah Allen on the left, received the return pass, and then beat Sánchez with a high left-footed shot.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, a corner from Lionel Messi on the edge of the six-yard box found Micael, who headed the ball into the far corner to seal a first half with five goals.
In the second half, in the fifth minute, a well-worked passing move outside the box ended at the feet of striker Rafael Llorente, who curled a great shot into the far corner to pull one back.
Furthermore, the match had to be stopped due to thunderstorms after 22 minutes, although it was able to resume just a few minutes later. However, neither team returned with the same intensity after the break, and scoring opportunities were few and far between.
