Lionel Messi delivered a breathtaking 11-minute hat trick to lead Inter Miami to a record-breaking 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With the win, Inter Miami set a new Major League Soccer (MLS) record for the most points in a single season, finishing with 74 points from 34 games and a 22-4-8 (W-L-D) record, surpassing the Revolution’s 2021 mark of 73 points.
Luis Suárez helped Miami stage an impressive comeback after going down by two goals in the first half. Suárez scored twice in under four minutes to keep Miami’s hopes of breaking the points record alive. However, it was Messi who stole the spotlight. Just one minute after coming on as a substitute, he assisted Benjamin Cremaschi to give Miami the lead for the first time in the match.
Messi’s magic continued as he scored his first hat trick for Inter Miami, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s goals came in quick succession, starting in the 78th minute, and solidified Miami’s historic achievement. The club also became the first team in MLS history to have multiple players—Messi and Suárez—score 20 or more goals in a season.
Although Messi and Suárez each finished the season with 20 goals, they are set to come in second in the Golden Boot race behind D.C. United’s Christian Benteke, who scored 23 goals. However, Messi leads the league in total goal contributions, combining 36 goals and assists in just 19 games.
Following the game, Inter Miami celebrated by lifting the MLS Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Miami co-owner David Beckham praised the team’s resilience and leadership, thanking fans for their unwavering support through both tough and triumphant moments. Beckham emphasized that this achievement was about creating history and uniting the Miami community.
Messi returned to action only a month ago after recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa América final in July. His back-to-back hat tricks, including one for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, demonstrated his full recovery and form. Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino credited Messi’s careful reintegration into both the Argentine national team and Inter Miami for his impressive performances.
Saturday’s win was a night of celebration for Inter Miami, as the team secured its first MLS silverware since joining the league as an expansion club in 2020. Inter Miami also claimed the MLS vs. Liga MX Leagues Cup trophy shortly after Messi’s arrival in 2023. Additionally, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that Inter Miami would participate in the 2025 Club World Cup and host the tournament’s opening game at Hard Rock Stadium.
With home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs, Inter Miami is set to begin their postseason campaign on Friday, facing the winner of the Eastern Conference wild-card match between CF Montreal and Atlanta United.
“Let’s get ready for the playoffs,” Beckham urged as the celebrations continued.