The Leagues Cup is a tournament where Inter Miami and Lionel Messi have found success in the past. Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, the first edition, which used a tournament format filled with Liga MX and MLS teams.

Lionel Messi had two assists, including one in the final seconds of the match, to help lift Inter Miami over Atlas 2-1 in their Leagues Cup opener on Wednesday night. It was Messi's first game back since he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping its All-Star game.

Lionel Messi has been reunited with his bodyguard on the pitch for Inter Miami -- no, not that one -- as the Herons added Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul to their squad this summer in a surprise move.