Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami's comeback over Atlético San Luis in Leagues Cup debut | OneFootball

Even though they fell behind just four minutes in, Inter Miami scored four times in the first half and beat Atlético San Luis 4-2, with two goals and one assist from Lionel Messi and three assists from Noah Allen.

Inter Miami debuted with a win in the 2026 Leagues Cup. On Wednesday night (5), the team led by Guillermo Ángel Hoyos defeated Atlético San Luis 4-2, coming from behind, at the Nu Stadium in Miami.

David Rodríguez opened the scoring just four minutes in, but Lionel Messi tied the game shortly after. Telasco Segovia scored the go-ahead goal, Messi added to the lead, and Micael closed out the first half at 4-1. After the break, Sérgio still scored a great goal for the Mexican team, but a long stoppage due to weather conditions completely cooled down the game.

In addition to the two goals, Messi provided an assist and was directly involved in three of Inter Miami's four goals. Noah Allen also had a brilliant performance, distributing three assists from the left side.

The Game

Atlético San Luis opened the scoring just four minutes in, with a good exchange of passes on the right side.

Román Torres received a long pass, controlled it with quality, and found David Rodríguez more inside. The striker activated Felipe Mora at the entrance of the area, and the center-forward returned the ball to Torres. The winger arrived on the right and crossed towards the small area.

David Rodríguez appeared again in the play, won the aerial dispute against Fricio Caicedo, and headed the ball to score the first goal of the game.

Inter Miami's response came quickly.

At 11 minutes, Casemiro received the ball in midfield and opened the play to Noah Allen on the left side. The left-back advanced and made a strong cross, at mid-height, between the goalkeeper and the defensive line.

Lionel Messi appeared inside the area and made a spectacular first touch, deflecting the ball into the goal and tying the game.

The Argentine threatened again at 19 minutes.

Messi received the ball in the center, slightly displaced to the right side, passed the marker with a beautiful dribble, and drove the ball towards the left. At the entrance of the area, he finished with great force. The ball hit the post and went out.

At 25 minutes, Inter Miami scored the second goal.

Casemiro found Daniel Pinter with a pass between the lines. The striker received the ball in an advanced position, tried to dribble the goalkeeper, and almost lost control of the ball, but recovered and finished into the net. However, the referee annulled the play for offside.

The turnaround happened just a minute later.

Micael found Noah Allen infiltrating on the left side. The left-back entered the area and, with the goalkeeper advancing towards him, made a touch over the top. Telasco Segovia appeared free in front of the goal and completed the play to put Inter Miami in the lead.

Atlético San Luis had the opportunity to tie the game at 33 minutes, when Sérgio fell inside the area, and the referee initially marked a penalty. However, after reviewing the play, the decision was annulled.

At 44 minutes, Inter Miami scored the third goal in an excellent collective construction.

Messi exchanged passes with Yannick Bright, who protected the ball with his body and returned it to the Argentine. The number 10 opened the play to Noah Allen on the left side and immediately attacked the area.

Allen crossed the ball first. Yannick Bright made a cut in front of the defense and left Messi face-to-face with Andrés Sánchez. The Argentine finished calmly and scored his second goal of the game.

The first half still had another goal in store.

Already at 52 minutes, Lionel Messi took a corner kick towards the small area. Micael won the aerial dispute and headed the ball to increase Inter Miami's lead to 4-1 before the break.

In the second half, Atlético San Luis reacted.

Sébastien Salles-Lamonge received the ball in midfield and found Felipe Mora with his back to the goal. The center-forward made a good pivot and adjusted the ball for Sérgio, who arrived and finished with his first touch.

The Spaniard made a spectacular shot, with a lot of curve, into the corner of Rocco Ríos Novo's goal. A great goal to reduce Inter Miami's lead to 4-2.

Soon after, the game was interrupted due to weather conditions near the Nu Stadium.

When the game resumed, the rhythm dropped completely. Both teams practically stopped creating opportunities, seemed to accept the game's scenario, and the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Key Stat

Despite winning by a two-goal margin, Inter Miami finished the match with less than half of the shots on goal of Atlético San Luis.

The difference lay in efficiency. The team made five shots on goal and scored four times, while the Mexican team needed 18 shots to score twice.

Game MVP: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi returned to the field, showing exactly why he continues to be the most decisive player for Inter Miami.

The Argentine scored two goals, provided an assist, and participated directly in three of the team's four goals. He was also responsible for the corner kick that ended in Micael's goal.

He had five shots throughout the match, three on goal and one that hit the post. Additionally, Messi created a great opportunity and finished the match as the team's main technical and offensive reference.

The number 10 is back, and it continues to be a privilege to watch a player capable of completely transforming a match in a few plays.

Another highlight: Noah Allen

Noah Allen had an overwhelming performance on the left side.

The young player provided three assists, participated in both of Lionel Messi's goals, and showed great calmness in the play that led to the turnaround, when he covered the goalkeeper and left Telasco Segovia free to score.

More than the numbers, Allen once again showed enormous quality with the ball at his feet, precision in his crosses, and the ability to attack spaces.

His good form did not start in this match. The full-back had already scored in the previous game and continues to increase the pressure on Sergio Reguilón in the dispute for a starting spot.

Allen is young, talented, and seems increasingly prepared to take on an important role in the team.

Atlético San Luis highlight: Sérgio

Despite the defeat, Sérgio was one of the most interesting players in the match.

The Spaniard scored a great goal at the beginning of the second half, created four opportunities, and completed four of the six dribbles he attempted. He was also responsible for suffering the penalty that was later annulled by the referee in the first half.

Sérgio arrived at Atlético San Luis after defending Linares, from the Segunda Federación, the fourth division of Spanish football, and quickly began to draw attention in Mexico.

In just four matches for the club, he has already scored three goals. A low-profile signing, but one that is starting to show itself to be quite interesting.

Inter Miami won, scored four goals, and earned three important points in their Leagues Cup debut. But it would be a mistake to analyze the match only by the score.

Micael's goal masks another poor defensive performance by the Brazilian.

This time, however, the problems were not concentrated only on him. Ian Fray was also below expectations, Fricio Caicedo was the team's worst defender, and Rocco Ríos Novo had a very insecure night.

Separating Noah Allen, who played practically as an attacking player for much of the match, Inter Miami's defensive line once again transmitted little confidence.

Casemiro had a discreet performance. He did not clearly compromise, but he also failed to control the defensive sector or protect the entrance to the area as expected of a player with his experience.

It was a presentation similar to the debut against CF Montréal: it was not bad, but it was far from being dominant. Many times, the security transmitted by Casemiro is more related to the weight of his name and career than to the performance presented on the field at the beginning of his passage through the club.

Ian Fray was between average and poor, although he was the least problematic among the central defenders. Caicedo, on the other hand, suffered from the start and lost the aerial duel to David Rodríguez in Atlético San Luis' first goal.

Micael scored, but again showed recurrent defensive difficulties. The Brazilian has not yet been able to offer the necessary security for a team that intends to compete for titles.

Rocco Ríos Novo also had a poor performance. The goalkeeper has already shown that he can decide matches, as happened against Montréal, but he continues to be quite inconsistent. Against Atlético San Luis, he was insecure throughout the match.

The second Mexican goal was a great goal by Sérgio, but the opponent's offensive volume also needs to be considered.

Atlético San Luis came into the game without winning in their first three matches of the Apertura in Liga MX. It is a team that has been able to score goals — six in their last four matches — but has less individual quality than Inter Miami.

Even so, they finished 18 times and hit seven shots on goal.

This is concerning.

Inter Miami had a very strong offensive first half, and the 4-1 lead was deserved for the period in which the team was able to accelerate the match. However, this superiority was directly linked to the individual performances of Messi and Noah Allen.

Messi participated directly in three of the four goals. Noah Allen also provided three assists. Without the two having an inspired night, the scenario could have been completely different.

Rodrigo De Paul, for example, had a below-expectation performance. Inter Miami also needed a good match from Telasco Segovia and the absurd efficiency of their attack to compensate for the problems in other sectors.

There is an interesting discussion about the team's balance with and without Lionel Messi.

Without the Argentine, Inter Miami may seem more compact collectively. The team can distribute defensive functions better and does not need to adjust the entire structure to guarantee complete freedom for the number 10.

Offensively, however, the level drops inevitably.

With Messi on the field, there is the security that he will find a way to resolve the match. He can score two goals, provide an assist, or create a play that completely changes the match. That's exactly what happened against Atlético San Luis.

Luis Suárez and Germán Berterame also have the conditions to lead the attack. Suárez is one of the greatest center-forwards of his generation and can still be decisive. Berterame, on the other hand, offers mobility, intensity, and presence in the area.

None of them, however, offers the same guarantee as Messi.

Against Montréal, for example, Suárez needed a penalty kick to score, while Inter Miami depended on an excellent performance from Rocco Ríos Novo to win.

Against Atlético San Luis, Messi participated in three goals and practically decided the match still in the first half.

The victory is important and puts Inter Miami in a good position in the fight for one of the four spots in the Leagues Cup knockout stage. The collective performance, however, still needs to evolve.

Against a stronger opponent, allowing 18 shots and depending again on an extraordinary performance by Lionel Messi can be costly.

What's next for Inter Miami and Atletico San Luis?

With the victory, Inter Miami earns its first three points in the Leagues Cup and starts the competition in a good situation in the dispute for one of the four spots in the knockout stage.

The team returns to the field this Saturday, August 8th, at 9 PM (Brasília time), when they face Monterrey, again at the Nu Stadium.

The match will be a much tougher test for a defense that continues to show difficulties.

Atlético San Luis returns to the field on Sunday, August 9th, also at 9 PM, to face Nashville SC, at the GEODIS Park, in the second round of the Leagues Cup.