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.
According to Novak Djokovic, he is playing his best tennis in a “long time”, and the Serb got rated as 8 out of 10 by one of the sons of Lionel Messi -- another athlete who has been nearly perfect his entire career.
The 37-year-old football legend took to Instagram to share his frustration and support for his teammates.
Messi scored a stunning goal in Inter Miami's 2-1 win at Atlanta United in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday but felt a muscle discomfort, local media reported.
Veteran Haiti international Fafa Picault headed in the winning goal in the 89th minute to give Miami a precious victory that extended their unbeaten start to the season.
It marked the third straight game that Messi failed to feature for Miami after he did not travel to Houston for last week's 4-1 win in MLS before watching the 2-0 victory over Jamaica's Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg game on Thursday.
Luis Suarez scored a goal and assisted on three others to lead Inter Miami to a dominant 4-1 victory over the host Houston Dynamo on Sunday night.
Messi scored in the 1-0 first-leg win in icy Kansas City last week and it took him only 19 minutes to find the target at a much warmer Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale in the return.
The Argentine World Cup winner was caught on camera in a confrontation with NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy after the final whistle.
Messi provided the assists for both Miami's goals including the leveler which came in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Messi struck in the 56th minute at Children's Mercy Park, showing superb individual skill before rifling a low angled shot past Sporting goalkeeper John Pulskamp.
