WATCH: Lionel Messi scores incredible hattrick in 11 minutes to help Inter Miami thrash New England Revolution
Lionel Messi weaved his magic one final time in the MLS regular season for Inter Miami, scoring an 11-minute hattrick in their regular season finale. The Herons came from behind to defeat New England Revolution in emphatic style, claiming a 6-2 win on Saturday, October 19.
Fresh from his goalscoring exploits with the Argentina national team in their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Messi was handed a rest by Tata Martino. The talismanic forward started the game on the bench with the MLS regular season record on the line and his side having already won the Supporters' Shield.
Inter Miami found themselves two goals down within 34 minutes of action in front of their fans, and their dreams of setting a new league record were fading away. They hauled themselves back level before Lionel Messi was introduced into the game in the 58th minute.
Messi created their go-ahead goal within seconds of his introduction, but the fans had to wait for 20 minutes for the Messi show to truly begin. The 37-year-old scored his first goal of the night with a fierce strike from outside the box which flew past the goalkeeper in the 78th minute.
Not satisfied with that effort, the Argentine great got himself a second goal three minutes later as he latched onto a through ball from Jordi Alba, beating the offside trap. He then had the presence of mind to slide the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 5-2.
For the first time in an Inter Miami shirt, Lionel Messi scored a hattrick, and it came from great combination play involving Luis Suarez and Leonardo Campana. He had the simple task of finding the empty net in the 89th minute after a pass from Suarez.
Lionel Messi scored a hattrick with Argentina while on international duty a few days ago, and repeated the feat with another fine treble against New England Revolution.
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami make history in regular season finale
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami made history as they ended their regular season campaign in the MLS with a 6-2 rout of New England Revolution. The Argentine forward took his league tally to 20 goals for the season in his side's win.
Messi came off the bench to score an 11-minute hattrick for the Herons as he made history with the club. He became their all-time record goalscorer with 33 goals, surpassing Leonardo Campana, who broke Gonzalo Higuain's record earlier this season.
Inter Miami's win over New England Revolution was symbolic, as it represented a baton exchange moment. The win saw the Herons end the season on 74 points, beating the record of 73 points set by New England in 2021. They will now participate in the summer's FIFA Club World Cup, as well, after winning the most points in the MLS.