Lionel Messi has taken Major League Soccer by storm! He set the record as the first player to score two or more goals in four straight league matches. Of course, he’s still displaying that scoring touch as a member of the Inter Miami squad. In a mere 15 appearances, he has registered a remarkable 14 goals.
Messi’s historic streak started in late May, when he netted a brace in his first game in pink—a 4-2 win against Montreal. He backed up this performance with yet another two-goal effort in a complete 5-1 dismantling of Columbus. Most recently, at Gillette Stadium, Messi opened the scoring against New England Revolution in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake and firing a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Messi has been blazing a trail for football in the US. He netted a brace in each of his final four MLS matches, bringing him within two goals of the league’s top marksman, Sam Surridge of Nashville SC. Messi has appeared in six fewer matches than Surridge, though, so it’s worth mentioning how much more efficient Messi is with his on-pitch appearances.
Inter Miami now has 35 points in the league standings, seven points behind leaders FC Cincinnati. Miami, in third place, has three matches in hand over Cincinnati. This benefit is due to their fairly recent experience in the Club World Cup, where they were ousted in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, with Messi scoring 1 goal in 4 games while playing.
Javier Mascherano, former teammate and close associate of Messi, expressed admiration for his enduring talent:
“For me, he’s the best player that has played this sport in history. It’s unbelievable how he continues doing things that maybe many years ago we thought that we cannot see at this moment.” – Javier Mascherano
Mascherano acknowledged the need for careful management of Messi’s playing time:
“We know that at some point we have to find the moment to rest him.” – Javier Mascherano
As Messi continues to dazzle fans with his extraordinary skills and goal-scoring ability, Inter Miami remains hopeful for a strong finish to the season.
