Lionel Messi may have left fans underwhelmed during Inter Miami’s forgettable Club World Cup campaign, but the Argentine icon is roaring back in the Major League Soccer spotlight with another electrifying run of form.
After struggling to leave a mark on the global stage, Messi has reignited his scoring engine in the domestic league, reminding everyone why he remains one of football’s deadliest forwards.
Inter Miami’s appearance at the 2025 Club World Cup raised eyebrows from the outset. Granted an automatic slot as hosts, the club bypassed the merit-based qualification route and were expected to make the most of the opportunity. But instead of rising to the occasion, Miami crashed out embarrassingly in the Round of 16, bowing to Paris Saint-Germain without much resistance.
Messi, who scored just once in four tournament games, could not dominate games and left fans to critics wondering how much control he had on the biggest stage.
The exit was viewed by all as a wake-up call, not only for Inter Miami but also for Messi. Rather than allowing the frustration to fester, however, the 38-year-old has come back in classic style, annihilating MLS with a tear-apart sequence of performances.
In the last match, Messi scored two goals in the first half to lead Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over New England Revolution. It was his fourth consecutive game with a brace, taking his total to 14 goals from 15 MLS games played this term.
The first one came in the 27th minute after collecting a cutback to finish unerringly with his left foot. He added his second 11 minutes later, curving a composed finish into the goal off a lofted pass from veteran teammate Sergio Busquets.
Even with Carles Gil’s visitors’ 79th-minute pull back, Miami held firm, ascending to fifth position in the Eastern Conference standings.
Messi’s current scoring spree is rewriting MLS history books. He now holds the record for the most consecutive games with multiple goals and boasts 58 goal contributions for the club, a franchise record.
In addition, he remains the only player in MLS history to register five assists and six total goal involvements in a single match, a feat he accomplished in May against the New York Red Bulls.
Though his disappointing Club World Cup outing underlined his limitations in the global club arena, his electric return to form in the MLS is testament to the fact that there is still loads of magic in his boots.
Inter Miami did not live up to their hype on the world stage, but with Messi at the helm, they are still a force to be reckoned with domestically.
As the season gains momentum, it’s evident that the Argentine is far from finished showcasing himself as the MLS is far less competitive compared to the world stage.
