Argentine international Lionel Messi scored two goals to become the MLS highest goalscorer and lead Inter Miami past New England Revolution on Saturday.
Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion, helped the Revolution set a club attendance record with 65,612 fans, in what was the second-most attended soccer match at Robert Kraft’s stadium, home of the Patriots.
“I thought they were able to find two goals when we felt pretty good about the defending that we were limiting their effectiveness, creating clear chances,” New England coach Caleb Porter said.
“That’s Messi. He finds two goals out of nowhere, and it exposes the detail in those moments from us.”
Although New England’s Tomás Chancalay scored less than 40 seconds into the match, Messi helped send Inter Miami ahead.
He scored in the 32nd minute less than 10 feet from the net to tie the match before halftime, and received a pass from Sergio Busquets inside the box in the 68th minute.
Messi did contest for a hat trick in the 83rd minute,but his shot was deflected.
Messi finished the match with an assist in the 88th minute to close friend Luis Suárez, who entered in the 63rd minute and played on New England’s artificial turf despite a history of knee injuries in his career.
Messi’s assist made MLS history, as he became the first player to have a goal and assist in five consecutive matches.
