MIAMI — Lionel Messi scored his first two objectives because the World Cup and took the profession scoring lead within the Leagues Cup as Inter Miami overcame an early deficit to beat Atlético San Luis 4-2 on a wet Wednesday night time.
The match at Nu Stadium was delayed half-hour within the second half due to lightning within the space.
Messi scored within the eleventh and the forty fourth minutes. He has 14 objectives in 12 Leagues Cup matches — one forward of Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga for many within the event’s four-year historical past.
Telasco Segovia and defender Micael additionally scored, and Noah Allen had three assists as Inter Miami prolonged its unbeaten streak to eight matches.
Messi returned to Miami’s beginning lineup in his second match because the World Cup, the place he led Argentina to its second straight closing look earlier than La Albiceleste misplaced 1-0 to Spain. The 39-year-old performed 37 minutes in its place in a 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
After being held off the scoresheet in opposition to Columbus, it did not take Messi lengthy to make an affect on Wednesday. He fired an extended cross from Allen previous Andrés Sánchez to equalize after David Rodríguez put San Luis forward with a header 4 minutes into the match. Messi completed from shut vary later within the first half and assisted on Micael’s header in stoppage time.
Rafa Llorente additionally scored for San Luis.
Messi led Miami to the Leagues Cup title in 2023 shortly after his arrival with the membership. Inter Miami reached the ultimate once more final yr, dropping 3-0 to Seattle in a match that ended with a brawl involving Luis Suárez. The veteran ahead appeared to spit towards a member of the Sounders’ workers and grabbed at the very least one Seattle participant by the neck in the course of the melee, leading to a six-match event suspension.
Which means Suárez, who has seven objectives prior to now 4 matches, was not accessible Wednesday and won’t play on this yr’s event.
