Lionel Messi has become the fastest player in MLS history to bag 25 goal contributions in a single season.
It’s been nearly a year since the Argentine World Cup winner left Europe after two decades of huge success and signed for Inter Miami.
Despite Leagues Cup success, Messi endured a slow start in the league last season, but he has stepped up another level this term.
The MLS have revealed Messi has scored 12 goals and assisted a further 13 in 12 appearances this campaign, the quickest time to reach such a collective tally.
It’s a record that former Arsenal star Carlos Vela held since 2019 when he was at LAFC, but it took him 16 games to hit 25 contributions.
Messi’s achievement comes after he scored Inter Miami’s first goal in their 3-3 draw against St Louis City on Saturday night.
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It’s a result that still sees them sit top of the MLS Eastern Conference on 35 points, but FC Cincinnati will overtake them if they win their two games in hand.
However, Messi’s attention will now turn towards Argentina and their Copa America campaign this summer, which kicks off on June 21.
The joint-record 15 time winners and reigning champions face Peru in the opening match of the tournament in Atlanta, Georgia.
Argentina also play Chile and Canada in their other Group A games as they eye a top spot finish to advance to the quarter-finals.
Should they do so, they will face the runners-up of Group B which holds Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica.
Messi, who has 180 caps for Argentina, has scored 13 goals and assisted another 17 in 34 Copa America appearances.
Nine of his contributions came in their 2021 triumph and the 36-year-old will be hoping to make it back-to-back tournament wins in the coming weeks.
Victory would also see Argentina win a second major trophy in 18 months following their World Cup success in December 2022.
News Summary:
- Lionel Messi shatters ex-Arsenal star Carlos Vela’s MLS record in final game before jetting off for Copa America
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