BREAKING: How Messi made more MLS history on Wednesday night in New England

Lionel Messi has been in the best health of his MLS career for the longest time, and his league rivals have suffered greatly as a result. Messi’s season total now stands at 14, and he continues his incredible scoring run in Major League Soccer after scoring both of Inter Miami’s goals in the first half to help the Herons defeat the New England Revolution 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Messi has now bagged a brace in four consecutive MLS games, making him the league’s first-ever player to string four multi-goal performances together. That purple patch has seen the world’s greatest living player skyrocket into second place in the MLS Golden Boot race behind only Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, who has 16 league goals heading into the weekend.

And maybe even more telling, the 38-year-old Messi has now made 16 consecutive appearances without an injury- or fatigue-related absence in all competitions for club and country.

It’s a little reminiscent of his introduction to Miami, he scored 10 goals in his first seven appearances (six starts) to take the 2023 Leagues Cup by storm and lead the Heron to their third major trophy.

If there’s any minor caveat to his recent hot run (and it’s indeed minor), it’s that he has mostly done it against struggling Eastern Conference opposition. Two of his braces came against last-place CF Montreal. And New England is in 11th place, four points beneath the playoff line.

But no matter. The win still took the Herons above Orlando into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, and within seven points of Supporters’ Shield leaders FC Cincinnati.

Miami currently has three matches in hand on Cincinnati, as a result of games rescheduled to allow for participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Messi and Miami will step up in class with their next opponent when they host second-place Nashville SC on Saturday night. The Coyotes were also in action Wednesday, romping to a 5-2 win over D.C. United in a home U.S. Open cup final.