Inter Miami star Lionel Messi set several MLS single-game records on Saturday night, recording five assists and a goal to lead Miami to a 6-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
Messi’s five assists, all coming in the second half, set a new single-game record for assists and for most assists in a half. With those combined with his goal, Messi also set a league record for goal contributions in a single match with six. Seven players held the previous record of five, including current Columbus Crew midfielder Diego Rossi twice, once in 2018 and once in 2020, both with LAFC.
Messi now has 10 goals and 12 assists in just eight games played this season. He became the first Inter Miami player to score double figures in both categories in a single season.
Messi now has 11 goals and 14 assists in 14 MLS regular season matches played since joining Inter Miami last summer.
The Red Bulls actually struck first in the game and held a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Miami came out on a different level in the second half and took over the game. New Miami signing Matias Rojas scored twice, star striker Luis Suarez added a hat trick and Messi was at the center of it all.
This connection between Messi and Luis Suarez is unstoppable! @LuisSuarez9 scores his 8th goal of the season on a volley and @InterMiamiCF is on a cruise. pic.twitter.com/5QQAdvp93R
– Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 5, 2024
Suarez now has 10 goals and five assists this season.
This victory keeps Inter Miami atop the MLS standings with 24 points in 12 games.
Is Messi on track to break full-season records?
The Argentine was already on course to equal Carlos Vela’s mark for most goals in a single season before the match. With Saturday’s explosion of assists, he’s now surpassing that pace.
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(Photo: CHRIS ARJOON/AFP via Getty Images)