Lionel Messi once again becomes the hero for Inter Miami after a dramatic 2-1 win over Atlas FC in their first game of the 2025 Leagues Cup. Messi didn't score, but he provided two assists, with one coming in the last minute.

Leagues Cup, the interleague competition between Major League Soccer and Liga MX, kicks off on Tuesday as the Columbus Crew will look to defend their title aas the tournament features a new wrinkle -- only 18 MLS teams and 18 Liga MX teams in their own groups.

Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both given one-game suspensions for skipping the All-Star Game, an official MLS rule which has attracted the fury of many in recent days, and he was revealed to be incredibly upset in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.