Lionel Messi made history in Major League Soccer by breaking the record for most goal contributions and assists in a single game. This remarkable achievement occurred during Inter Miami CF’s impressive 6-2 win against the New York Red Bulls at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday night. Messi’s exceptional performance included six goal contributions and five assists, setting new records in the MLS. Moreover, this incredible feat extended his streak of scoring and assisting in six consecutive league matches.
“All of the goals were crucial in the game, but Leo made history tonight with five assists and one goal,” raved Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino. “Suarez’s hat-trick and Rojas’ brace were also outstanding. Rojas’ first goal was particularly spectacular, but I have to highlight Suárez’s scissor kick goal as my personal favorite due to the technical brilliance of Leo’s assist.” Suárez netted three goals while Rojas found the back of the net twice, propelling Inter Miami to a remarkable comeback from a 1-0 halftime deficit with six unanswered goals. Messi and Suárez currently lead the league with 10 goals each, with the Argentine maestro also topping the MLS charts for assists with 12.
“It’s definitely easier playing with Leo. We have great chemistry, and sometimes it feels like we can read each other’s minds and make movements on the field without even looking. It’s a huge asset for our team,” Suárez mentioned. Martino and Messi have a long history together, having crossed paths at Barcelona and even playing against each other when Martino coached the national teams of Paraguay and Mexico. Despite watching Messi for years, Martino believes that Messi’s performance against the Red Bulls will be hard to top. “I’ve seen Messi play some outstanding games at Barcelona,” Martino recalled. “But there was one particular semifinal in the Copa America in Chile where he didn’t score a goal yet was still the best player on the pitch. He also had memorable performances like the game against Valencia where he turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win with his hat-trick. And let’s not forget the match against Sevilla where he scored three goals to secure a 4-1 victory after trailing 1-0. Messi always manages to surprise me with something new every time he steps on the field. Being involved in all six goals in a 6-2 win is a truly remarkable feat.” Messi has quickly become a key player in Inter Miami’s success. Since joining the team in July 2023, Inter Miami’s record stands at 2-4-6 (WDL) without him and 15-7-3 with him in the lineup in all competitions.
“He’s not just important for this game, he’s always a key player. Today, the connection between Messi and Luis in the second half was reminiscent of old times. When they play well together, the rest of the team supports them, and when they have room to maneuver, they have a significant impact on the game,” Martino commented.
