Below is a selection of the notable performances and moments from the 14 matches played on the 11th matchday of the 2024 MLS regular season on Saturday, April 27.
Messi Magical in Front of Record Crowd in New England
The greatest player in the world continues to make his impact felt every time he steps on the field, as Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist in the club’s 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday. The match was played in front of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium, the largest home crowd in New England Revolution history.
After the Revolution’s Tomás Chancalay opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the match (Watch Here), it was all Herons, as consecutive goals from Messi in the 32nd (Watch Here) and 68th minutes (Watch Here) gave Inter Miami a lead they would not relinquish. Nineteen-year-old midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi extended the lead to 3-1 with his first goal of the season (Watch Here), before Messi found striker Luis Suárez in the 89th minute to punctuate the victory (Watch Here).
With three combined goals and assists tonight, Messi has recorded multiple goal contributions in five consecutive games – the longest streak in MLS history. He has also recorded 16 goal contributions in his first seven games of the 2024 season, the most by a player in MLS history in his first seven games of a season and three more than the previous record holders Thierry Henry (13 in 2012) and Carlos Vela (13 in 2019).
Real Salt Lake, Chicho Arango End Philadelphia’s Unbeaten Start
Real Salt Lake hit the road on Matchday 11 and set to do what no team had done thus far in 2024 – defeat the Philadelphia Union. Behind goals from Andrés Gómez, which featured an assist from Landon Donovan MLS MVP hopeful Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango, and an 89th-minute game-winning golazo from Alexandros Katranis (Watch Here), Salt Lake emerged with a 2-1 victory over the Union and reclaimed pole position in the Western Conference table.
With his assist, Arango continued to pad his early-season MVP résumé and ranks second in MLS with 15 goal contributions, behind only Inter Miami CF’s Lionel Messi (16). Arango’s 15 goal contributions through Real Salt Lake’s first 10 games of the season are tied for the second-most in MLS history by a player in his club’s first 10 games of a season. Only Carlos Vela (16) had more through LAFC’s first 10 games of his MVP-winning season in 2019.
Benteke Keeps Ballin’ for D.C. United
After falling behind 1-0 in the 14th minute, star striker Christian Benteke rose to the occasion and scored a pair of goals to secure a 2-1 victory for D.C. United in the nation’s capital.
Benteke’s first strike came from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute, as the forward deposited a strong right-footed shot into the top of the net to level the score (Watch Here). Twelve minutes later, Benteke was on the receiving end of a sensational cross from Aaron Herrera and elevated for a thunderous header that proved to the be the game-winning score (Watch Here). The goals were his seventh and eighth of the year, respectively.
With his brace, Benteke recorded his fourth multi-goal game since September 1, 2023, including a pair of hat tricks over the span. Only LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, the reigning Golden Boot presented by Audi winner, has more multi-goal games over the span with five.
Late-Game Theatrics Steal Victory for Toronto
Trailing by a goal in the waning minutes of regulation, Toronto FC provided some late-game theatrics on Saturday, as goals from Tyrese Spicer, the No. 1 overall pick in MLS SuperDraft 2024 presented by adidas, in the 87th minute and Prince Owusu in the 90th minute (Watch Here) powered the club to a 2-1 road victory over Orlando City SC.
Saturday marked the second time in Toronto FC history that the club scored both the game-tying and game-winning goals in a match in the 87th minute or later. The club previously accomplished the feat on July 27, 2013, with Jonathan Osorio and Andrew Wiedeman scoring the goals.
Mukhtar Reaches Century Milestone in Goal Contributions
Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, has been no stranger to the MLS record book throughout his decorated career. On Saturday, he found himself included on another star-studded leaderboard after recording his 100th goal contribution with his goal in the club’s 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes (Watch Here).
For Mukhtar, he reached the 100-goal-contribution milestone in his 120th career regular-season match – all of which have come with Nashville SC. He became the 11th player in league history to record 100 combined goals and assists in 120 games or fewer and, of the 11 players to accomplish the feat, he becomes the ninth former MVP to reach the milestone in 120 games or less.
