Lionel Messi had an outstanding night for Inter Miami. He scored a goal and provided five assists as Inter Miami defeated the New York Red Bulls 6-2 on Saturday night — with the Argentine superstar and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the game’s top player setting three Major League Soccer records.
His six-goal contributions, five assists, and five assists in a half were all MLS records. Messi, who was named the MLS Player of the Month for April, has now scored and assisted in six consecutive league matches.
“It’s becoming a regular occurrence, but it seems like he’s always making history,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. “If something was missing, it was this — to contribute in six goals.”
Luis Suárez scored three goals, and Matias Rojas scored twice as Inter Miami scored six unanswered goals to come back from a 1-0 halftime deficit. Messi and Suárez now lead the league with 10 goals each, helping keep Inter Miami (7-2-3, 24 points) at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The win extended Miami’s unbeaten run to six games. The streak began after a 4-0 loss at New York on April 20, in which Messi did not play due to an injury.
“When he is not around, of course, the team notices,” Martino said. Miami started the scoring with Rojas’ goal in the 48th minute. Messi passed the ball to Rojas, who scored with his left foot under the crossbar.
Suárez then passed the ball to Messi, who scored from 15 yards away, beating New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
Rojas scored his second goal, making it 3-1 in the 62nd minute, with an assist from Messi. Rojas, who joined Inter Miami on April 23, started the second half.
“This is the best feeling for a goal scorer,” Rojas said. “It’s even more special because we achieved it at home.” Messi then assisted Suárez’s first goal in the 69th minute.
“Leo makes it simpler for all of us,” Suárez said. “We’ve known each other for a long time. When we’re on the field, we know how to find each other without looking.”
Suárez scored again in the 75th and 81st minutes before the Red Bulls (4-2-5, 17 points) scored on Emil Forsberg’s penalty kick in stoppage time.
“We have many players who can score,” Martino said. “At times during the game, we’ll find good chances. The challenge is how we minimize the bad moments.”
New York had more possession early on and took advantage of a defensive lapse by Miami, leading to Dante Vanzeir’s goal in the 30th minute.
José Carmona made a deep run into the right wing and took a shot that hit the far post. Vanzeir, unmarked, got to the rebound and scored from 15 yards.
Messi had his only chance to score in the first half in the 24th minute, but Coronel saved his shot from the edge of the penalty area. Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba missed his third consecutive game due to a hamstring injury.
Both teams will continue playing in the MLS next Saturday. Inter Miami will face CF Montreal away, while the Red Bulls will host New England.
