Lionel Messi was once again decisive with Inter Miami. In his return as a starter after the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine captain scored two goals, provided an assist and led the 4-2 comeback win over Atlético de San Luis in the debut of both teams in the Leagues Cup.
However, beyond his brilliant performance, one of the statements that caught the most attention was that of coach Guillermo Hoyos, who resorted to art to describe the quality of the world champion and assured that his first goal was worthy of Pablo Picasso.
Guillermo Hoyos surrenders to Lionel Messi
After the match, the Inter Miami coach did not hide his admiration for the level shown by Messi, especially for the definition with which he equalized the score just a few minutes after the Potosí team's initial goal.
"There are no qualifiers. The boys were showing me the first goal he scored. Those of us who have played soccer know what it's like. If we were talking about painting, it would be Picasso," Hoyos highlighted.
The strategist's words reflected the impact that the Argentine continues to generate even among those who live with him daily in the locker room.
Messi commanded Inter Miami's comeback
The match started uphill for Inter Miami, as Atlético de San Luis surprised with a goal just after five minutes.
The response from the American team was immediate. Lionel Messi tied the match at minute 10 with a great finish inside the area and later reappeared to complete an outstanding team play with Yannick Bright and Noah Allen, making it 3-1.
The Argentine also contributed with an assist from a corner kick so that Micael scored the fourth goal of the night with a header, while Telasco Segovia had previously scored the second goal with a pass from Noah Allen, who completed an outstanding performance with three assists.
The return of Messi as a starter excites Inter Miami
The match marked Messi's first game as a starter since the 2026 World Cup final. The man from Rosario had reappeared the previous weekend by playing just over half an hour as a substitute against the Columbus Crew, but against Atlético de San Luis he returned from the start and made it clear that he keeps his influence in the attack intact.
His performance represents an injection of confidence for an Inter Miami that seeks to win the Leagues Cup again, a tournament that it won in 2023 with the arrival of the Argentine and in which it was runner-up last season.
Inter Miami is already thinking about Monterrey and León
With the first three points in the bag, Inter Miami will continue its path in the Leagues Cup facing Monterrey and later León, seeking to advance to the direct elimination phase.
In the tournament format, MLS and Liga MX clubs play three games against rivals from the opposite league. The points obtained feed a general classification and only the four best teams in each competition get their ticket to the quarterfinals.
With Lionel Messi once again starring and receiving praise that compares him to one of the most influential artists in history, Inter Miami began the tournament sending a clear message to its rivals: the 2023 champion is once again a serious contender for the title.
