Lionel Messi keeps turning Major League Soccer into his territory. With two more goals in Inter Miami’s win over New England Revolution, the Argentine became the first player in league history to score multiple times in four consecutive matches. In three of those games, he also added at least one assist. He’s not just scoring goals, he’s dictating the pace, setting up teammates and holding the team together on the field.
Since arriving in 2023, Messi has scored 54 goals in 65 appearances for Inter Miami. This season alone, he’s already hit 23 goals in 25 games, with an average of 0.92 goals per match. He’s netted 20 times in the current MLS campaign, earned the MVP award, and has scored in each of his last six league outings. In his last nine games, he has ten goals.
The streak includes standout performances against Montreal on May 28 and July 5, when he scored twice and assisted once in both games. On May 31, facing Columbus Crew, he had one of his most complete performances since moving to the U.S., scoring twice, assisting twice, and helping Miami to a 5–1 win. His latest match against New England wrapped up his fourth straight game with two goals, a mark no MLS player had reached before. It’s more than just numbers, it’s about control.
Inter Miami is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 35 points, seven behind leaders FC Cincinnati. The team hasn’t reached elite status yet, but when Messi’s on the pitch, things shift. From the first time he touched the ball in the league, the difference has been obvious.
Inter Miami plays around Messi
When Messi joined, the talk was about changing the team. What really happened was a shift in dynamic. The team became dependent on him, but not in a negative sense. They play better with him, and the drop in quality is noticeable when he’s missing. He draws attention from defenders, gives teammates time to think, sees passes others don’t, and finishes chances that didn’t look promising.
There are still gaps in Miami’s squad. Not everything clicks all the time, but Messi makes up for a lot of that with how he reads the game. He controls possession, leads transitions, and keeps the play flowing. The team is still in the playoff hunt largely because of him. He performs at a high level consistently, even without a world-class team around him. That says plenty about his form, and even more about the weight he carries in a league that’s never had a player like this before.
His presence pushes the club to expect more. It challenges the league to be better organized. Everyone has to level up just because he’s here.
MLS needs Messi now and in the long run
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Messi in MLS isn’t just good publicity, it’s a major win. He’s the face of the league, the name that gets attention from media, brands and fans across the globe. And the biggest surprise is that he’s delivering on the field just as much as off it.
MLS has seen big names before. Beckham brought visibility, Ibrahimovic brought goals and drama, Henry brought flair, and Kaká brought elegance. But none of them had the same consistent impact. None of them put MLS in international headlines every week. Messi is doing that without changing who he is, just by playing at his usual level.
There’s nothing left for him to prove. He’s won every major title, lifted the World Cup and been the best player on the planet more than once. But he keeps competing. He keeps showing up like he’s still got something to chase. And that’s what gives MLS real meaning. It shows that this league can be more than just a final stop. That with the right talent, effort, and commitment, the spotlight can stay on for real reasons.