Argentine maestro Lionel Messi made history by scoring a brace in Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Nashville SC in the Major League Soccer (MLS) – becoming the first player to score two goals in five straight matches in the league’s history.
Four days after he became the first player ever to score multiple goals in four straight MLS matches, Messi delivered his fifth brace in five MLS games.
The 38-year-old Argentine star has scored two goals in each of his last four MLS games to become the first MLS player to score multiple goals in four straight games.
Miami were playing their first MLS game in more than a month. They had advanced past the first phase of the Club World Cup but fell 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 last week.
The scoreline told one story. The atmosphere told another.
The Club World Cup's various problems have been well documented, from empty seats to storm delays, extreme heat to complaints about FIFA's expanded competition being a cash grab at the expense of the players' long-term health.
From Inter Miami's Lionel Messi facing former side Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid meeting Juventus and Chelsea taking on Benfica, here is how the last 16 of the Club World Cup have shaped up:
Two decades later, Messi stands with a staggering 45 trophies and a collection of records that may never be broken.
Inter Miami will face European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 while Palmeiras will have an all-Brazilian encounter with Botofogo.
Messi's impact was limited -- he was quickly closed down by Vancouver and was restricted to an optimistic long-range effort in the 29th minute which flew high over the bar.
In an exclusive conversation with ESPN’s Simplemente Futbol, the Inter Miami superstar admitted he continues to contemplate his involvement in what would be his sixth World Cup appearance
Drenched in vibrant pink and turquoise, the boots are inspired by the pulsating energy of Miami, Messi’s new home on the pitch.
“No, yes in a joking tone we often talk, but he has those desires to play the World Cup next year too,” Suarez told Ovacion.
A club-record crowd of 62,358 packed into Soldier Field for the visit of Lionel Messi and his Inter team to witness a gutsy display from the home side.
Messi tucked the 84th minute spot kick into the corner to complete the comeback for Miami and earn them a place in the last four.
Too often Messi, who played the full game, was trying to create by himself while crowded out by Toronto defenders but did he test Johnson with a low shot in the 77th minute after working some space for himself.
A 57th-minute strike from Los Angeles-born El Salvador international Nathan Ordaz handed LAFC a precious advantage heading into next Wednesday's return leg in Florida.
Messi had missed Argentina's World Cup qualifiers in South America during the recent international window after picking up an adductor strain in Miami's most recent Major League Soccer game, a 2-1 win at Atlanta on March 16.
Argentina great Lionel Messi and his family watched tennis legend Novak Djokovic dominate Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami Open semifinal yesterday.
