FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The best regular season in Major League Soccer history belongs to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
Messi scored his first hat trick in a Inter Miami jersey, his second in a five-day span, while Luis Suarez added two goals as Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution, 6-2, on Saturday night to set the MLS record with 74 points in a season.
It was a brilliant performance by Messi, who might have secured MLS MVP with the dynamic effort that left Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham almost dumbfounded from his seat on the bench at Chase Stadium.
The club celebrated its MLS Supporters’ Shield title with Beckham and Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas handing the trophy to Messi, goalie Drake Callender and mindfielder Sergio Busquets. The trio collectively raised the trophy as the club celebrated with fireworks and flying pink confetti on a historic night.
Inter Miami was also named the host team for the FIFA Club World Cup, taking place this summer in the United States, during the postgame ceremony by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“Our players are what has made this season successful,” Beckham said. “Our captain has led us. Our players have led us in times where it was difficult. But now, tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow, we prepare for Friday, the playoffs.”
Suarez scored twice in a three-minute span (40’ and 43’) to spark the comeback. Messi entered off the bench in the 58th minute, and immediately assisted Benjamin Cresmachi’s goal with Jordi Alba.
Then, Messi scored twice in a three-minute span (78’ and 81’) for Inter Miami’s commanding lead. His third goal came in the 89th minute for the hat trick.
It was Messi’s first match since he scored three goals with two assists for Argentina in a 6-0 win over Bolivia last Tuesday during a World Cup 2026 qualifying match.
“You’re just in awe, even as his teammate,” Inter Miami’s Julian Gressel said of Messi. “It’s incredible to see him [have] back-to-back hat tricks now in games, and to come in 30 minutes and do that is incredible. Hopefully, he can do it more in the playoffs.”
Inter Miami begins the MLS Cup Playoffs next Friday, against the winner of the Eastern Conference wild-card game set for Tuesday between CF Montreal and Atlanta United. With the best record (22 wins, four losses, eight draws), Inter Miami has home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with hopes to reach the MLS Cup final on Dec. 7.
Inter Miami’s points record tops the previous mark of 73 points set by the Revolution in 2021. New England’s Luca Langoni (2’) and Dylan Borrero (34’) scored early goals, setting the stage for Miami’s comeback.
“This gives our team an injection of confidence,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of the points record. “These 74 points is not something we aimed for at the start of the year, but as soon as it was within reach, we tried to get it and we did it. … It’s a triumph for the whole Inter Miami family.”
Messi and Suarez finish the MLS season with 20 goals each, becoming the first teammates in league history to score 20 goals for the same club. They only trail D.C. United’s Christian Benteke, who will win the MLS Golden Boot with 23 goals.
Messi played in 19 of 34 games, or 55.8% of the season, for Inter Miami. He finished the regular season with 20 goals and 16 assists, becoming just the fifth player in league history to record at least 36 goal contributions in a season.
Three players in the MVP race – Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernandez, Cincinnati’s Lucho Acosta and Portand’s Evander – finished with 33 goal contributions this season. MLS MVP voting will end Sunday, while the winner of the award will be announced during the playoffs.
More important, Messi is in pristine form after missing two months due to a right ankle ligament injury he suffered during the Copa America final on July 14. Messi has played in eight total matches, scoring 11 goals, since his return on Sept. 14.
“The feeling I have now is that we have him in an ideal situation to face the most important part of the season,” Martino said of Messi.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates, highlights and analysis from the game:
Messi scored again, thanks to an assist by Luis Suarez and Leo Campana. It’s the first hat trick of his Inter Miami career, and his second in five days.
Lionel Messi. Again. This score just three minutes after his last score. Messi scored in the 81st minute, and has a brace in Inter Miami’s 5-2 advantage over New England Revolution.
The goat is on the board, and Inter Miami’s lead has doubled. Lionel Messi scores in the 78th minute on an impressive shot outside the box, and into the back of the net. Inter Miami leads 4-2, and likely will set the MLS points record.
New England’s Bobby Wood scored in the 70th minute, nearly tying the match with Inter Miami. But Wood’s goal was disallowed after video review. Wood’s kick near the net ricocheted off goalie Drake Callender, hitting his arm.
Lionel Messi entered in the 58th minute, and within his first minute he has affected the scoreboard. Messi to Jordi Alba, then Benjamin Cremaschi found the back of the net. Inter Miami leads 3-2 over the Revolution.
Just like that, we have a tied game in Fort Lauderdale. Luis Suarez has a brace, scoring his second goal of the match in the 43rd minute. That’s two goals in three minutes for Suarez, who has 20 goals this season. He’s three shy of MLS scoring leader Christian Benteke of D.C. United.
Inter Miami is on the board after striker Luis Suarez scored in the 40th minute. It’s the 19th goal during the MLS season for Suarez, the club’s leading scorer this season. Suarez scored thanks to an assist by defender David Martinez.
Messi can’t get off the bench fast enough. Inter Miami trails 2-0 in the first half after New England’s Dylan Borrero scored in the 34th minute after a weak defensive effort.
Inter Miami trails after New England’s Luca Langoni scored a goal in the second minute past goalie Drake Callender.
The Inter Miami match against New England Revolution is available to live stream via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Messi will play, but it’s likely he will come off the bench in Saturday’s game, Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said on Friday.
Here’s the starting lineup for Inter Miami, which has Messi on the bench.
Messi has just returned from international duty, where he scored a hat trick with two assists in Argentina’s 6-0 win against Bolivia last Tuesday. Argentina also settled for a 1-1 draw in Venezuela on Oct. 10.
Messi has played in seven total matches, scoring eight goals, since his return on Sept. 14 from a right ankle ligament injury during the Copa America final that sidelined him for two months.
Messi has not yet committed to playing for reigning champion Argentina in the next World Cup.
“I don’t get ahead of myself. I try to enjoy day by day. When the time comes, we’ll see,” Messi said about the next World Cup after accepting the MARCA America Award on Thursday.
“I don’t like to accelerate time or look ahead. I try to enjoy every day. I hope I can keep playing at this level to feel good and be happy. When I get to do what I love, I am happy. I value that more than reaching the 2026 tournament. I haven’t set a goal to reach the World Cup, but more so to live day-to-day and be well.”
Inter Miami’s first playoff game is Oct. 25, with its opponent still to be determined. It will play the winner of the Eastern Conference wild-card match on Oct. 22 between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the playoff picture.
No. 8 D.C. United, No. 9 CF Montréal, No. 11 Philadelphia Union and No. 12 Atlanta United are in contention for the final two playoff spots on MLS Decision Day Saturday. No. 10 Toronto has been eliminated.
