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October 19, 2024

Inter Miami breaks the MLS points record thanks to Lionel Messi’s trick

After Inter Miami defeated the New England Revolution 6-2 on Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lionel Messi scored an incredible 11-minute hat trick to help the team break the Major League Soccer record for most points in a single season.

Miami barely surpassed the Revolution’s 2021 record of 73 points at the end of the MLS regular season with 74 points in 34 games and a 22-4-8 (W-L-D) record.

Luis Suárez scored twice in less than four minutes to keep the chase for the points record alive, helping Inter Miami return from a two-goal deficit after 34 minutes.

However, captain Messi appropriately cemented Inter Miami’s name in league history. He came on just one minute late and assisted in setting up Benjamin Cremaschi to give Miami the lead in the 58th minute.

After that, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner took center stage, scoring his first hat trick for Miami in the 78th minute and becoming the team’s all-time top scorer with 33 goals.

Additionally, Miami became the first team in Major League Soccer history to have a single player score more than 20 goals in a season.

Messi and Suárez are expected to finish second in the Golden Boot race to D.C. with 20 goals each. Christian Benteke of United (23 goals). However, with 36 goals and assists in just 19 games, Messi leads the league in goal contributions.

“Our captain has led us, the players have led us in times where it was difficult,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “But now, tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we prepare for Friday and the playoffs.

“As my partner and friend Jorge Mas said, this was always about creating history for Miami. This was always about family, la familia, our people in this stadium. Tonight, it’s about you guys because you supported us through the tough times, and you’re supporting us through the good times.”

Messi only returned to action last month after suffering an ankle ligament injury during the Copa América final on July 14. However, he now has hat tricks in consecutive games after achieving a triple in Argentina’s victory over Bolivia on Tuesday in their World Cup qualifying match.

“After the major injury he had in the Copa América, we had to be very careful in his recovery and in his insertion into the team,” Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino told reporters. “And it seems to me that both the Argentine team and us here were very careful with that issue and we ended up nourishing each other.

“I think the game with Columbus was very important, especially the second half, with Leo being very involved in what happened in that game. And obviously we also drew nourishment from this last match with Bolivia where he already seemed much looser, much more in rhythm. And obviously today, well, I think the first ball he touches is the pass to Jordi Alba [for Miami’s third goal], so today the feeling that we have it in an ideal situation.”

It was Miami’s celebration night. Earlier this month, the team won the MLS award for best regular-season record for the first time, and after the final whistle, they were given the 2024 Supporters’ Shield. Having joined the league as an expansion team in 2020, Miami had never won an MLS trophy before.

The first MLS vs. Liga MX Leagues Cup trophy was previously raised by Inter Miami shortly after Messi’s arrival in the summer of 2023.

Following Saturday’s victory, FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared that Miami would participate in the 2025 Club World Cup and host the first game of the 32-team competition at Hard Rock Stadium. Inter Miami will now have home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs, which is more immediate. The team will play the Eastern Conference wild-card winner between CF Montreal and Atlanta United on Friday to begin the postseason.

“Let’s get ready for the playoffs,” Beckham said.

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