Lionel Messi marked his return to action with a pair of crucial assists on Wednesday night, including setting up a dramatic late winner for Inter Miami as it opened its Leagues Cup campaign with a 2-1 home victory against Liga MX’s Atlas.

Lionel Messi’s recent one‑match suspension from MLS made major headlines in the run‑up to the 2025 Leagues Cup. He got banned because he didn’t show up at the MLS All-Star Game on July 23, which is a clear violation of the league’s rules that require players to participate unless they have a formal excuse.