FORT LAUDERDALE — Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in Leagues Cup history Wednesday night, tallying two goals and one assist to power Inter Miami to a 4-2 victory over Atlético de San Luis in the club’s 2026 tournament opener at Nu Stadium.

Messi equalized in the 11th minute with a full volley that drew him level with LAFC forward Denis Bouanga on the all-time chart, then smashed his record 14th Leagues Cup goal into the roof of the net before halftime to give Miami the lead for good. He added an assist for Micael from a corner kick in first-half stoppage time to stretch the advantage to three goals.

“The guys were showing me the first goal he scored and how he made that shot. It was something very complicated,” head coach Guillermo Hoyos said. “Anyone who plays football knows how difficult it is to have that precise and clinical space and timing. And to place that ball that is coming from the left to the right, and shoot it to the right. So if we were talking about painting, I will call him Picasso.”

Fullback Noah Allen, a 22-year-old homegrown player, nearly stole the spotlight with three assists — two setting up Messi and a third teeing up Telasco Segovia for Miami’s second goal. “I want to congratulate him. He participated very well,” Hoyos said. “He got into those spaces in the depth. It’s very difficult in terms of time and space because time is a big, big factor in how he released that ball. The first assist was something very, very difficult to do, and this is something also to celebrate.”

Inter Miami, the 2023 Leagues Cup champions and 2025 finalists, conceded early before Messi’s equalizer swung momentum. Hoyos acknowledged the grueling conditions. “This has been a very tough match in a very tough pitch with high humidity and we also felt the heat. But we’re very happy because of the result,” he said. “I want to congratulate all that manifested during the match and I’m very thankful for the effort that the team made. That triumph is very important to us.”

The Herons advance in the fourth edition of the Leagues Cup and will look to continue their tournament run in the group stage’s remaining matches.