His international career may be in the rearview mirror, but for Lionel Messi, it's business as usual at the club level.
Four days after his Argentina retirement sendoff, in which he recorded 1g/2a against Benin in the final match of his illustrious international career, the 39-year-old didn’t skip a beat in his Inter Miami return.
By the final whistle, he’d scored two goals, which, combined with 2g/1a from Luis Suárez, guided the Herons to a dominant 4-0 win over D.C. United in a Walmart Saturday Showdown at Nu Stadium.
Messi’s Golden Boot, MVP chase
Even after hanging up his boots with Argentina, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is still in unstoppable form in MLS. Saturday's brace pushes his season total to 23g/13a, four tallies clear of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa atop the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race.
Seeking his second consecutive Golden Boot title, Messi's form also puts him in pole position to claim a historic Landon Donovan MLS MVP three-peat, potentially making him the first player to win the honor three times.
The iconic No. 10 wasn't the only star on the night, either. So too was Suárez. The Uruguayan legend is up to 15g/9a this, his third straight year with 10+ goals and 20+ goal contributions.
“Luis is one of the most important players on the squad,” said head coach Cristian "Kily" González. “He’s totally committed, not only to us but to the club.
"Anybody who didn’t understand before should understand now that he’s a fundamental player for this team.”
Turning a corner
Messi celebrations aside, Inter Miami needed the result. After just one win in 10 games heading into the September/October international break, Kily González’s start to life as the Herons' head coach needed a breakout game.
Consider Saturday just that.
The Herons averted the possibility of dropping as low as fifth in the Eastern Conference, instead solidifying their grasp on the No. 2 spot behind Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference-leading Nashville SC.
“I think we defended very well; we were very decisive and scored in the right moments,” González added. “I think we could’ve scored more goals, so I’m satisfied.”
Staking a stronger claim to their spot in the table, the Herons will look to continue their rise in the six remaining regular-season games, beginning with Wednesday’s home clash against New York City FC (7:30 pm ET | Apple TV), where they will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since July.
