Leo Messi becomes all-time top scorer in Leagues Cup with 14 goals in 12 games

Lionel Messi, the man who has spent two decades making the extraordinary look routine, added another line to his already absurd résumé on August 5. During Inter Miami’s 4-2 victory over Atlético de San Luis, Messi scored twice and added an assist to become the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history with 14 goals in just 12 appearances.

The achievement puts him atop the tournament’s scoring charts, edging past LAFC’s Denis Bouanga. Bouanga had also reached 14 goals, but needed 13 matches to get there. Messi did it in 12.

A tournament tailor-made for Messi’s late-career dominance

The Leagues Cup, which expanded into a full-scale competition in 2023, has essentially served as Messi’s personal showcase since he arrived in North America. He scored 10 goals during the 2023 edition alone, dragging Inter Miami to the tournament championship in what felt like a one-man heist.

His two goals against Atlético de San Luis at Nu Stadium continued that trend. The match itself was a comfortable affair for Inter Miami, with Messi’s two goals and an assist accounting for three of the four in a 4-2 result.

Fresh off a World Cup heartbreak

This Leagues Cup milestone arrives just weeks after Argentina’s run at the 2026 World Cup, where the defending champions fell short in the final. Argentina finished as runners-up, a painful result for a squad that had lifted the trophy in Qatar four years earlier.

What this means for MLS and the Leagues Cup’s future

The Leagues Cup occupies an interesting space in North American soccer. It pits MLS clubs against Liga MX teams in a summer tournament that, before 2023, carried about as much prestige as a preseason friendly. His 14 goals in 12 games represent a scoring rate of more than one goal per match.

Denis Bouanga, for his part, remains a legitimate star in his own right. The LAFC forward’s 14 goals in 13 matches represent an excellent record that would be the headline in any other era.