Messi Silences Critics with Historic MLS Record After Club World Cup Disappointment

Argentine forward Lionel Messi continues to dominate Major League Soccer after his much-discussed move to the United States late in his career. Before his arrival, Inter Miami sat at the bottom of the table. Just a year later, Messi led the team to a regular-season championship and is now rewriting the MLS record books with remarkable consistency. And behind this surge is more than just skill — it’s personal motivation.

After a disappointing performance at the FIFA Club World Cup, Messi was bombarded with criticism. Many pundits declared that the legend had run out of steam, claiming his time in America was proof of decline. His controversial post-match comment — expressing “pride” after a humiliating 0-4 defeat to PSG — left some questioning the mindset of a player who once seemed allergic to losing. Instead of conquering Europe once more, he’s in the U.S., far from the Champions League spotlight.

But Messi didn’t answer his critics with words — he responded on the pitch, with performances impossible to ignore.

Immediately after the Club World Cup, Messi bagged a brace against CF Montréal. In the very next round, he scored twice again against New England, securing a 2–1 win for Inter Miami. Now, he’s just repeated the feat once more — two goals against Nashville in another 2–1 victory. That’s five consecutive MLS matches with a brace — a league record no one had ever touched before.

Messi’s only goal at the Club World Cup came from a beautifully struck free-kick — and it was no fluke. Against Nashville, he scored again from a set-piece, sliding the ball under the wall and into the keeper’s corner during the first half. To be fair, there wasn’t much the goalkeeper could do about it.

After halftime, Nashville managed to equalize — something Messi wasn’t ready to accept. The Argentine forced an error from the goalkeeper, intercepting a poor clearance, skipping past him, and calmly slotting the ball into the empty net despite a desperate attempt from a defender to block it — 2–1.

Messi also won another personal battle that night. Nashville striker Sam Surridge, who had been leading the Golden Boot race before the match, failed to score. Messi, on the other hand, seized his moment, equaling the Englishman’s tally — despite having played six fewer matches.

At 38 years old, Messi is still putting on a show. Five consecutive braces in MLS speak not just to his enduring class, but to his determination to prove he’s still among the very best. It’s hard to imagine anyone matching this streak anytime soon — perhaps it will go down as one of those untouchable records in MLS history.

“We’re monitoring things daily and always in close communication with him. We’ll find the right time to give him a breather,” said Javier Mascherano in an interview with Goal. “What he continues to do is just unbelievable — he’s breaking records every three days. He’s the standard-bearer for our team, our leader, and he sets the tone for how we compete. It’s truly a blessing to be part of this phase of his career.”

Published by Patrick Jane
14.07.2025