The Mexican Teams Lionel Messi Has Already Scored Against: His History Against Liga MX

Lionel Messi has already faced several Mexican clubs, with five of them appearing on his scoring list.

Messi and the Mexican Teams He Has Already Scored Against

Lionel Messi has built a long list of encounters against Mexican clubs throughout his career. First with Barcelona and later with Inter Miami, the Argentine has shared the pitch with some of the biggest teams in Liga MX, and in several of those matches, he also managed to get his name on the scoresheet.

There have been friendlies, official matches, big wins, assists and even eliminations in which Messi failed to score. However, when looking specifically at the Mexican clubs that La Pulga has scored against, five names stand out: Atlante, León, Cruz Azul, América and Atlético de San Luis.

Atlante and León: The First Clubs to Receive His Signature

The first Mexican team to concede a goal to Lionel Messi was Atlante. The match took place on December 16, 2009, in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, as Barcelona won 3-1.

Messi started the match on the bench due to an ankle issue, but came on in the second half. He made his presence felt almost immediately. Just one minute after entering the game, he received a pass from Zlatan Ibrahimović and scored Barcelona's second goal to make it 2-1.

The second victim came several years later. In the 2014 Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona hosted León at Camp Nou and went on to beat the Mexican side 6-0. Messi needed just three minutes to get on the scoresheet and open the floodgates for what became a difficult night for the Mexican club.

Interestingly, that match also featured Rafael Márquez, one of the most prominent Mexican players in Barcelona's history. The final score, however, highlighted the enormous gap between the two teams that night.

Cruz Azul, América and the Impact of Messi at Inter Miami

The Argentine's arrival at Inter Miami completely changed the frequency of his matchups against Mexican teams. The Leagues Cup created new encounters and once again put Messi face-to-face with Liga MX opponents.

One of the most memorable chapters came against Cruz Azul in 2023. The match appeared destined to end in a draw until Messi stepped up in stoppage time. The Argentine delivered a perfect free kick to score the decisive 2-1 goal, turning his tournament debut into an unforgettable moment.

The case of Club América is also interesting because there are two different encounters. In 2006, Messi faced the Mexican side with Barcelona in a friendly that ended 4-4, although he did not directly contribute to any of the goals.

That changed in 2025. As an Inter Miami player, Messi faced América again in Las Vegas and scored the equalizer to make it 1-1 in a match that ended 2-2. Inter Miami later won 3-2 on penalties.

Atlético de San Luis, The Most Recent Victim

The most recent Mexican club to concede goals to Messi was Atlético de San Luis. The encounter took place in the 2026 Leagues Cup, where Inter Miami won 4-2. Messi was the star of the show, scoring twice and becoming the main force behind the American club's victory.

But the history also shows that facing Liga MX teams has not always meant an easy night for Messi. Monterrey is the clearest example. In the quarterfinals of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, Monterrey won the series and eliminated Inter Miami. Messi did not score in either match.

Now, the list is set to gain another chapter with Cruz Azul, one of the Mexican teams that has already conceded a goal to Messi. The Argentine and the Mexican side will meet again in the Campeones Cup.