Messi hat trick helps Inter Miami break MLS points record

Lionel Messi scored a stunning 11-minute hat trick to help Inter Miami break the Major League Soccer record for most points in a single season, after defeating the New England Revolution 6-2 Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reports espn.

Miami concluded the MLS regular season with 74 points in 34 games and a 22-4-8 (W-L-D) record, narrowly besting the Revolution's 2021 mark of 73 points.

Luis Suárez propelled Inter Miami to rally from two goals down after 34 minutes, scoring twice in under four minutes to keep alive the chase for the points record.

But it was captain Messi who fittingly cemented Inter Miami's name in league history. Just one minute after coming on he helped set up Benjamin Cremaschi to put Miami ahead for the first time in the 58th minute.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner then took center stage himself, starting in the 78th minute, to score his first hat trick for Miami and in the process become the club's all-time leading scorer with 33 goals.

Miami also became the first team in MLS history to have multiple players score at least 20 goals in a season.

With 20 goals apiece, Messi and Suárez are set to finish second in the Golden Boot race to D.C. United's Christian Benteke (23 goals). Messi, though, leads the league in total goal contributions with a combined 36 goals and assists in only 19 games.

Messi returned to action only last month after after sustaining an ankle ligament injury in the final of the Copa América on July 14. But he now has hat tricks in back-to-back games following his treble in Argentina's World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia on Tuesday._Agencies.