Inter Miami caps off the best regular season in Major League Soccer history with a stunning hat-trick from Lionel Messi.
Finishing the season with a remarkable record of 22 wins, 4 losses, and 8 draws, Inter Miami achieved a .765 winning percentage, setting a new MLS benchmark. Previously, only four teams—D.C. United and LA Galaxy in 1998, LAFC in 2019, and New England Revolution in 2021—had reached a .750 winning percentage, which was the highest until now.
With this achievement, Inter Miami not only claims the top spot in points but also boasts the best won-lost-tied record in league history. They are now the eighth team to finish a regular season with just four losses, tying a significant record.
Messi, who played approximately 35 minutes during the match, showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring three goals, wrapping up the season with a total of 20 goals and 16 assists across 19 games.
Luis Suarez also marked his first MLS season by reaching the 20-goal milestone, with his two goals coming just three minutes apart, helping Inter Miami overcome an early 2-0 deficit.
New England’s Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrero found the net, but the remainder of the match belonged to Miami.
Suarez’s goals leveled the score by halftime, and Benja Cremaschi netted the decisive goal in the 58th minute, assisted by Messi just moments after he entered the game.
There had been uncertainty about Messi’s participation, especially since Inter Miami had already secured the Supporters’ Shield and the top seed for the MLS Cup playoffs. The only thing left to achieve was the record.
A moment of concern arose in the 74th minute when Messi was fouled, visibly in pain as he clutched his right ankle. He has missed 15 matches this season due to national team commitments and a two-month recovery from a significant ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa America triumph.
Fortunately, it turned out to be just a scare.
Messi quickly found his rhythm, scoring two goals within minutes to extend the lead from 3-2 to a commanding 5-2 victory. The record was clearly within Inter Miami’s grasp. The match concluded with a delightful assist from Suarez, allowing Messi to complete his hat-trick in the 89th minute.
Looking ahead, Inter Miami is set to play Game 1 of a best-of-three first-round playoff series at home on Friday night, marking the first playoff match in the club’s history.
