Lionel Messi found the net for the first time after the World Cup, scoring two goals in Inter Miami’s 4-2 victory over Atlético San Luís. The match took place on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, in the initial stage of the Leagues Cup, a tournament that brings together teams from the United States and Mexico.
With these two goals, Messi reached 921 goals in his professional career, being just 79 away from reaching the thousand goals mark in official matches. Remarkably, the Argentine star reached 920 goals in a smaller number of games than Cristiano Ronaldo, his main opponent in modern football. The Portuguese player, who now has 976 official goals, had reached his 920th goal when he was ten days away from turning 40, with Cristiano Ronaldo currently 24 goals away from his thousandth.
Inter Miami’s number 10 played just his second game since finishing runner-up in the World Cup with the Argentine team, on July 19.
Last Saturday, he only participated in the second half of the 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew, in MLS. In Wednesday’s match, David Rodriguez opened the scoring for San Luis, but Messi equalized in the 11th minute, finishing off a cross from the left.
Telasco Segóvia turned the score around for Inter Miami in the 26th minute. Messi scored again in the 44th, dominating the area after another cross from the left and shooting without giving the goalkeeper a chance. In first-half stoppage time, Messi also provided an assist for Brazilian Micael, formerly of Houston Dynamo and Palmeiras, who scored his first goal for Inter Miami.
Rafa Llorente closed the gap to San Luis at the beginning of the final stage, shortly before the match was interrupted due to the storm protocol in force in the United States.
