Lionel Messi continued his record-breaking run in Major League Soccer on Wednesday night, scoring both goals in Inter Miami’s 2-1 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. The 38-year-old Argentine became the first player in MLS history to score multiple goals in four consecutive games, further cementing his legendary status in world football.

Messi’s red-hot form has transformed Inter Miami into a major contender in the Eastern Conference, with the club rising from sixth to fifth place following the win. Miami now sits on 35 points, just seven behind conference leaders FC Cincinnati, with three games in hand after their recent Club World Cup campaign.

Messi, who joined Inter Miami in 2023, continues to exceed expectations on American soil. Wednesday’s brace pushed his season total to 14 goals in just 15 MLS appearances, putting him within striking distance of Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, the league’s current top scorer with 16 goals in 21 matches.

The scoring streak began in late May with a double against CF Montréal in a 4-2 win. That was followed by another two goals in a dominant 5-1 victory over the Columbus Crew. Although Inter Miami temporarily paused their league campaign to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain. Messi maintained his sharpness, scoring once in four matches during the international tournament.

Upon returning to MLS action on Saturday, he picked up right where he left off, bagging another brace in a commanding 4-1 victory against Montréal.

Wednesday night’s performance marked his fourth straight multi-goal match — an MLS first — and underlined just how much of an impact the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to have.

“Obviously, Leo is a special player,” said Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano, Messi’s longtime former teammate with Argentina. “For me, he’s the best player that has played this sport in history. It’s unbelievable how he continues doing things that, even years ago, we thought we would never see again.”

Messi opened the scoring in the 27th minute after pouncing on a defensive error by New England. With trademark composure, he buried a left-footed finish from the heart of the penalty area.

His second goal arrived in the 38th minute. After a clever through ball from Sergio Busquets, another of his former Barcelona teammates, Messi surged forward and curled a perfectly placed shot into the far corner, out of the reach of Revolution goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic.

“They have played for many years, so just when they see each other, they connect and they know what they think,” Mascherano said of the iconic duo. “In the second goal, Busquets understands when and where Leo wants the ball. It’s fantastic for us.”

Despite Miami’s dominance in the first half, New England mounted a challenge late in the second half. Veteran Spanish midfielder Carles Gil cut the deficit in the 79th minute with a stunning strike from outside the box after intercepting a loose pass from Tadeo Allende. But Miami’s defense, led by goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, who finished with six saves, held firm to secure the win.

With their form peaking in July, Inter Miami are now well-positioned to make a serious run for the Supporters’ Shield and possibly a deep playoff run, depending on squad rotation and injury management.

The next challenge, however, is managing player fatigue in a month packed with fixtures. Miami will play three matches in the next 10 days, including a highly anticipated clash with Nashville SC on Saturday.

Mascherano acknowledged the need to rest Messi but said the timing must be right.

“We know that at some point we have to find the moment to rest him,” Mascherano said. “But with the game still close after New England’s goal, we couldn’t afford to take that chance tonight.”

Still, the Argentine manager expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to balance performance and player welfare as they push deeper into the second half of the season.