Football

Lionel Messi Hits Second Hat-Trick In Four Days As Inter Miami Break MLS Points Record

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Published20 Oct 2024

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Lionel Messi hat-trick

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi hit his second hat-trick in four days as he helped Inter Miami break the regular season points record in Major League Soccer.

Miami beat the New England Revolution 6-2 on Saturday, taking their points tally to 74 in the last of 34 regular season games.

That total eclipses the previous record of 73, set by New England in 2021.

Despite going 2-0 down Miami came back with a vengeance for the win. Goals from Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrero had put the Revolution in control before a Luis Suarez brace levelled the scores.

Few subs in world football will have more impact than Lionel Messi, even at 37 years of age. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner came off the bench in the 58th minute and was crucial in his side’s victory.

Having already netted a hat-trick in midweek for Argentina against Bolivia, he bagged another treble in just 11 second-half minutes.

Scoring in the 78th, 81st and 89th minutes, Messi oozed class as he ruthlessly punished New England.

His first was a powerful, left-footed drive from the edge of the box. Three minutes later, he netted his second from close range.

And Messi rounded off his first hat-trick in the Pink of Inter Miami shortly before full-time.

A superb team move saw Messi and former Barcelona teammate Suarez link up boastfully, with Messi volleying in from close range to seal the victory.

Miami are the latest addition to the FIFA Club World Cup, and will now enter the MLS play-offs.

Lionel Messi’s Second Hat-Trick In A Week

Messi’s second hat-trick this week means he now has eight goal involvements in four days.

As well as scoring three as Argentina hammered Bolivia, he also provided two assists.

The World Cup winner now has 112 goals for Argentina in 189 games. His country’s most-capped player, Messi is closing in on becoming the first Argentine to reach 200 caps.