In what can only be described as a thrilling display of football excellence, Messi scored an electrifying hat-trick to lead Inter Miami to a 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday. This performance not only secured the win but also earned Messi the title of Inter Miami’s all-time leading goal-scorer.
At 37 years old, the Argentine superstar continues to show the world why he’s still a force to be reckoned with. His three goals, scored in a remarkable 11-minute spell, took his tally to 33 goals for the club, cementing his place in Miami’s history books.
With this victory, Inter Miami finished the regular MLS season with 74 points, setting a new league record for most points in a single season. The previous record of 73 points was set by New England in 2021.
The game kicked off with a shaky start for Miami. They found themselves trailing 2-0 after goals from New England’s Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrero. The home crowd was restless, chanting for Messi to come off the bench.
Suárez, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, sparked the comeback for Miami just before halftime. His two goals leveled the score, and the momentum shifted in Miami’s favor. But the real fireworks began when Messi was substituted in the 58th minute.
With Miami already ahead 3-2 after a goal from Benjamin Cremaschi, Messi made sure there was no doubt about the outcome. He fired in three goals, each more stunning than the last, to finish off New England. His first goal came from a brilliant back-heeled pass from Suárez, which Messi blasted into the far bottom corner. The second came from a perfect pass by Jordi Alba, which Messi calmly finished. The third and final goal came just a few minutes before the end of the match, when Messi met a volleyed cross from Suárez and fired it into the net.
In just 11 minutes, Messi had completed his second hat-trick of the week, following his three-goal performance for Argentina against Bolivia earlier in the week. He now has 20 goals in 19 MLS appearances.
Miami’s victory wasn’t just about Messi’s brilliance. It was a historic night for the club. The win gave Miami the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record in MLS. Co-owner David Beckham was thrilled with the achievement, emphasizing how special this moment was for the club.
“Our captain has led us, the players have led us in times where it was difficult,” Beckham said. “But now, tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we prepare for Friday and the playoffs.”
Beckham, who played a crucial role in bringing Messi to Miami, spoke passionately about the importance of this moment for the team and the city.
“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,” Beckham added.
The win also guarantees Miami a place in the 2025 Club World Cup, as FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced during the post-game celebration.
Saturday’s match wasn’t just another game for Messi. With his hat-trick, Messi became the highest goal-scorer in Inter Miami’s history. He now holds the record for being the top scorer at three different clubs: FC Barcelona, the Argentine national team, and Inter Miami.
Gerardo Martino, Miami’s head coach, was full of praise for Messi’s performance. After seeing Messi return from a two-month injury layoff, Martino believes the Argentine is back to his best.
“I have the feeling that we have him in an ideal situation to face the most important part of the year,” Martino said. For Messi, who has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and countless trophies during his career, adding another record to his name seems almost routine at this point. Yet, his hunger for success remains as strong as ever. His latest performances show that, even in his late 30s, Messi is far from finished
