Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick of the week for Inter Miami’s 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution at the end of the MLS regular season on Saturday October 19, 2024.
Miami, already assured of the best record in the North American championship, reached 74 points with this victory, a record in MLS (34 meetings per team), and will appear as the favorite for the title awarded at the end of the play-offs which start on Wednesday.
Messi (37 years old), already author of a hat-trick with the Argentine selection against Bolivia on Tuesday (6-0) in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup (Amsud zone), did it again on Saturday at home by being a substitute at kick-off .
Entering in the 58th minute, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored three times in 12 minutes: first with a clear strike from the edge of the area (78th), then with a ball slipped under the goalkeeper ( 81st), before taking an acrobatic cross from Luis Suarez (89th), each time with the left foot.
The Argentinian 2022 world champion has scored 20 times in 19 regular season matches this year, having returned in September from a two-month break due to an ankle injury.
“After his significant injury, we had to be very careful with his recovery and his reintegration into our team, as well as the national team”explained coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino.
Miami will face either CF Montreal or Atlanta United in the first round of the play-offs, who will compete in the Eastern Conference play-off.
With 23 goals, Christian Benteke (DC United) finished the regular phase as top scorer. He is followed by Messi, Suarez and Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), twenty goals.
Miami finishes the regular phase of the championship at the top of the Eastern Conference with 74 points. The Florida club is ahead of Columbus Crew (66) and FC Cincinnati (59).
New York RB finishes 7th and is therefore guaranteed to participate in the play-offs, reserved for the top nine. For DC United (10th) and Chicago (15th), the competition is over.
With AFP
