Lionel Messi made MLS history on Saturday, becoming the fastest player to reach 25 goal contributions in a season.
It has taken Messi just 12 games this season to reach 12 goals and 13 assists by MLS’ counting, breaking the previous mark set by Carlos Vela in his 2019 MVP campaign.
In that season, Vela needed four more games than Messi – 16 total – to reach 25 goal contributions.
Messi added to his goals collection on Saturday with a wonderful sidefoot from just inside the box, supplied by his good friend (and former Barca teammate) Jordi Alba.
Alba also assisted Luis Suarez‘s equalizer in the 45th minute, while the left-back later scored in the 85th to salvage a draw for Inter Miami at home.
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Chris Durkin and former Inter Miami player Indiana Vassilev scored in the first half for St. Louis, while Suarez had an own goal in the 69th minute that looked to seal the win for St. Louis.
Alba’s tap in was originally called back for offside, but overturned after video review.
Even with the draw, Miami (10-3-5, 35 points) took a two-point lead atop the Eastern Conference standings and in MLS overall, ahead of second-place Cincinnati (10-3-3, 33 points), which did not play Saturday.
However, the next month will be a crucial one with Messi – and possibly Suarez – set to miss MLS action for the Copa America.
Messi will join Argentina next week on a quest to defend the Copa America title it won in 2021, when the eight-time Ballon d´Or winner tearfully lifted his first major trophy for his national team, filling in one of the biggest gaps in his decorated career.
Messi, and potentially Suarez, could miss at least five Inter Miami matches during the tournament.
Copa America runs from June 20 through July 14. And after Copa, Inter Miami could lose players again when national teams call for the Paris Olympics, which run from July 26 to August 11.
Miami, who did manage to win Leagues Cup last season with Messi, Alba and Sergio Busquets, is seeking just its second playoff berth in club history.
Messi, who battled injuries earlier this season and has been rested on occasion, has played just the eighth-most minutes on the team, a figure sure to plummet in the coming month.