Lionel Messi has added another piece of history to his crowded mantle.
After providing three assists in Saturday's 4-1 home win over the New England Revolution, Inter Miami CF's legendary No. 10 reached 41 goal contributions on the season.
Messi (24g/17a) is now the second player in MLS history to reach at least 40 combined goals and assists in a regular-season campaign, after Carlos Vela’s record 49 with LAFC in 2019.
Messi-led rout
The GOAT assisted Tadeo Allende’s 32nd-minute opener, then connected with former FC Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba before the halftime break. The vintage combination doubled Miami’s lead.
Dor Turgeman pulled one back for the visitors in the 59th minute, but Miami reacted almost immediately. Just a minute later, Messi set up Allende's second goal of the night shortly before Alba added a brace of his own to round out the scoring.
"He gave us the possibility of opening the score and then securing [the result]," head coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi's standout performance.
"Not only with the pass for Jordi, but when they [New England] made it 2-1, and in the next play with an assist that only he can give. He keeps showing the ability he has and, more than anything, the ambition and desire to go for more."
Final push
Messi has two games left to challenge Vela's feat, including a Decision Day trip to Nashville SC on Oct. 18 (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
The Argentine icon is also vying to become the league's first-ever repeat Landon Donovan MLS MVP.
On the collective front, Messi and Miami sit third in the Eastern Conference with 59 points. A top-four finish would guarantee home-field advantage in their Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series.
