Lionel Messi just can’t stop scoring! The soccer superstar scored two more goals on Saturday to help Inter Miami win 2-1 against Nashville SC. This makes it five games in a row where Messi has scored two goals in each match — a record that no one else in Major League Soccer (MLS) history has done before.
Who Is Lionel Messi?
If you don’t already know, Lionel Messi is one of the greatest soccer players in the world. He’s from Argentina, and he’s won the Ballon d’Or (the award for the best soccer player in the world) eight times — more than anyone else ever. After playing most of his career for FC Barcelona in Spain and later for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France, he joined Inter Miami in 2023.
Even though he’s now 38 years old, Messi is still playing like he’s in his prime. In fact, his current scoring streak is something fans all over the world are talking about.
The Game: Miami vs Nashville
This game took place on Saturday, and it was part of the MLS regular season. The match was especially exciting because both teams are fighting for higher spots in the Eastern Conference standings.
Messi scored his first goal in the 17th minute. It came from a free kick, which is a special type of play in soccer. A free kick happens when a team gets a chance to take a shot without any defenders blocking the path — except for a wall of players and the goalkeeper. But Messi is so talented, he curved the ball around the wall and into the goal past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis. That gave Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
Here’s a fun soccer fact: Messi has scored more than 60 goals from free kicks in his career! That takes incredible skill, timing, and precision.
Second Half Drama
Even though Miami was in control in the first half, Nashville came back strong after the break. Just four minutes into the second half, Nashville star Hany Mukhtar scored a header to tie the game 1-1. A header is when a player uses their head to hit the ball, often during a cross from a teammate.
But the tie didn’t last long.
In the 62nd minute, Messi struck again. This time, it wasn’t a beautiful free kick — it was a goal made possible by a big mistake from the Nashville goalkeeper. Joe Willis made a bad pass, and Messi quickly took advantage, scoring with ease. That made it 2-1 for Miami, and the score stayed that way until the final whistle.
Messi’s Scoring Record
After the two goals against Nashville, Messi now has 16 goals in just 16 MLS games this season. That means he’s averaging one goal per game, which is extremely rare in professional soccer.
To compare, Nashville’s top scorer Sam Surridge also has 16 goals this season, but he couldn’t add to his total in this match.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano, who used to play with Messi on the Argentina national team, said:
“There are not many words. It’s incredible what he keeps doing, breaking records now every three days, not even every weekend. He is the leader of our team and shows us how to compete.”
Mascherano added that coaching Messi is a “blessing” and that Messi is showing everyone how great he still is, even at 38 years old.
What’s Next for Inter Miami?
This was Inter Miami’s third game since returning from a break for the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament where top teams from different countries play against each other. Miami got knocked out in the Round of 16 by Messi’s former team Paris Saint-Germain.
But back in the MLS, Miami is on a roll. They now have 38 points from 19 matches, which puts them in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. However, they have three games in hand, meaning they’ve played fewer matches than the teams above them. That gives them a big chance to climb to the top if they keep winning.
Right now, Philadelphia Union is in first place with 43 points after a 2-0 win against New York Red Bulls. FC Cincinnati is second with 42 points, but they lost 4-2 to Columbus Crew. Both Columbus and Nashville have 41 points.
That means the Eastern Conference race is super tight!
Will Messi Rest Soon?
Inter Miami has more games coming up fast. They play Cincinnati on Wednesday, and then they face New York Red Bulls next weekend. That’s a lot of soccer in a short time — and even someone like Messi needs to rest eventually.
Coach Mascherano said:
“At some point, we’re going to have to find a time to rest him. We’ll talk about it day by day. He feels good now, but we’ll decide together when it’s best to take a break.”
Even though Messi is older than most players, he’s still one of the fittest and smartest on the field. That’s why he keeps performing at such a high level.
Soccer Fun Facts
A regular soccer game lasts 90 minutes, split into two 45-minute halves.
Most players score about 10-15 goals in an entire MLS season — Messi already has 16 in just half a season!
MLS stands for Major League Soccer, which is the top soccer league in the United States and Canada.
Messi has won 4 Champions League titles, 10 Spanish league titles, and even a World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
Conclusion
Lionel Messi continues to amaze soccer fans everywhere with his incredible performances for Inter Miami. Scoring two goals in five straight games is something that has never been done before in MLS. Whether it’s from a free kick or a quick reaction after a goalkeeper’s mistake, Messi always finds a way to score.
With more matches coming soon and Miami pushing for the top spot in the standings, fans are excited to see what Messi does next. Can he keep up his streak? Can Miami win the MLS Cup? Only time will tell — but with Messi on their side, anything is possible!
