Lionel Messi netted his second hat-trick of the week, and Luis Suarez added two goals as Inter Miami defeated the New England Revolution 6-2, setting a new MLS regular season points record.
Lionel Messi Shines for Inter Miami
Lionel Messi delivered a stunning performance, netting his second hat-trick of the week, while Luis Suarez scored twice, as Inter Miami triumphed 6-2 over the New England Revolution. With this victory, Miami shattered the MLS regular season points record.
Messi, who came off the bench in the 58th minute, fueled a late surge, bringing his tally to 20 goals in 19 MLS appearances. Suarez, his former Barcelona teammate, has also been in remarkable form with 20 goals from 27 matches this season.
¡Messi aplastante! 🌟🌟🌟 pic.twitter.com/X1lLki6t8B
— MLS Español (@MLSes) October 19, 2024
Miami’s win secured them 74 points, surpassing the previous record of 73 set by New England in 2021. The added pressure of breaking this record elevated the final match of the regular season, with Inter Miami already clinching the Supporters’ Shield and marking themselves as clear favorites for the upcoming MLS Cup playoffs.
The game began with Miami trailing 2-0, but Suarez sparked the comeback before halftime with two impressive goals. Argentine Luca Langoni and Colombian Dylan Borrero initially gave New England the lead, but Suarez responded with a brilliant left-foot strike, followed by a solo effort to level the game.
Messi, fresh off a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia, wasted no time after his introduction. He assisted Jordi Alba, who set up Benjamin Cremaschi for Miami’s third goal. New England briefly thought they had equalized through Bobby Wood, but VAR disallowed the goal for handball.
Messi then took center stage, scoring his first of the night after a clever back-heel pass from Suarez, followed by a second goal courtesy of a superb Jordi Alba assist. He completed his 11-minute hat-trick in the 89th minute, volleying home from a Suarez cross. Messi’s return to form after a two-month injury layoff has him firing on all cylinders ahead of the playoffs.
Miami’s head coach Gerardo Martino emphasized the team’s cautious approach to Messi’s recovery, saying, “We have him in an ideal situation to face the most important part of the year.” While Miami still needs to iron out a few defensive errors, breaking the points record has boosted the squad’s confidence going into the playoffs.
Co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas celebrated the Supporters’ Shield win alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who confirmed that Miami’s victory has earned them a place in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Elsewhere in the final round of MLS action, Montreal secured their playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over New York City, setting up a wildcard round clash with Atlanta United. Atlanta sealed the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 2-1 win against Orlando City.
