Lionel Messi scored 10 goals in the 2023 Leagues Cup. He finished as the tournament’s leading scorer while guiding Inter Miami to the club’s first major trophy.
Messi joined Inter Miami shortly before the competition and made his debut on July 21, 2023, against Cruz Azul. He scored a dramatic stoppage-time free kick in that match, beginning a remarkable run in which he scored in every Leagues Cup game he played. His goals came during Miami’s knockout-stage victories as well as the final.
The tournament included all 47 clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, making it a much larger competition than earlier editions. Messi’s 10 goals came across seven matches, including his goal in the final against Nashville SC. Inter Miami eventually won that match on penalties after a 1–1 draw.
The 10-goal total also earned Messi the tournament’s Best Player award. The Leagues Cup was especially significant because it was Inter Miami’s first trophy, arriving only weeks after Messi’s move from Paris Saint-Germain.