Lionel Messi bags hat-trick as Inter Miami thrash Alhassan Yusuf’s New England Revolution
Messi to play at FIFA Club World Cup
Lionel Messi (37) scored his second hat-trick of the week, and Luis Suarez (37) netted twice as Inter Miami beat Alhassan Yusuf’s New England Revolution 6-2 to set a new points record in the MLS regular season.
Miami’s victory in their final match of the regular season took them to 74 points, one more than New England’s previous record of 73 points, set in 2021.
Messi came off the bench in the 58th minute and sparked a late flurry of goals. The Argentine now has 20 goals in 19 MLS appearances, while Suarez has also scored 20 goals from 27 matches this season.
With the Supporters’ Shield already secured for the best regular season record, the focus shifted to breaking the points record, further boosting Miami’s momentum as favourites for the MLS Cup playoffs, which start next week.
Miami initially trailed 2-0 after goals from Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrero gave New England the lead in the first half, leaving home fans calling for Messi’s entry.
It was Suarez, however, who began the comeback. After David Martinez set him up, Suarez pulled one back with a firm left-foot finish. The Uruguayan then levelled the score before half-time with a solo effort, cutting inside and scoring with his right foot.
Messi, fresh from scoring a hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia, came on in the second half and quickly set up Benjamin Cremaschi for a tap-in, following a pass from Jordi Alba.
New England thought they had equalised when Bobby Wood scored, but his goal was ruled out for handball after a VAR review.
Messi then took over, scoring his first goal with a brilliant strike into the bottom corner after receiving a back-heeled pass from Suarez. His second came after a perfect assist from Alba, and he completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute with a precise first-time finish from Suarez’s volleyed cross.
Messi’s three goals in just 11 minutes show that the Argentine is back to his best following a two-month injury absence after the Copa America.
Head coach Gerardo Martino expressed confidence in Messi’s form.
“I feel we have him in the ideal situation to take on the most important part of the year,” said Martino.
During the Supporters’ Shield celebration, David Beckham and Jorge Mas were joined by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who confirmed that winning the Shield secured Miami a place in the 2025 Club World Cup.
