Only one participant is still missing
MLS record Inter Miami – takes part in the Club World Cup” alt=”Messi with hat trick at MLS record Inter Miami – takes part in the Club World Cup”/>
©IMAGÓ
With his second hat-trick in a few days, Lionel Messi led his club Inter Miami CF to a historic record in the MLS. Also thanks to the great performance of the eight-time world footballer, the team from Florida won against New England Revolution 6:2 (2:2) on the last match day of the regular season and their points count increased to 74 point.
In doing so, Miami set a league record: a team has never scored so many points in an MLS season. The previous record was held by New England, who scored a total of 73 points in 2021.
Inter Miami and Messi are allowed to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Miami has already been announced as the winner of the Supporter’s Shield, which traditionally honors the best team of the regular season. The team led by co-owner David Beckham thus secured participation in the 2025 Club World Cup; FIFA officially announced their participation shortly after the match.
The new Club World Cup from 2025 – This is how the field of participants is made
The competition will take place next summer in the USA and now 31 out of 32 participants have been confirmed. The final open spot goes to the winner of the Copa Libertadores, where the semi-finals include already qualified Argentina’s River Plate, Brazilian clubs Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo and Uruguay’s CA Peñarol.
Miami isn’t the official champion yet, though; the title will only be awarded in the subsequent MLS playoffs. Here Messi and Co. will meet. with the winner of the duel between CF Montréal and Atlanta United in the first round.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi also scored three times against Bolivia
Messi only came on against New England after 57 minutes when the score was 2-2. Before this, the Uruguayan star striker Luis Suárez equalized a deficit of 0-2 from the side of Miami through Luca Langoni and Dylan Borrero. After Benja Cremaschi’s opening goal (58th), 37-year-old Messi made the decision with a flawless hat-trick within eleven minutes (78th, 81st, 89th).
It was the second hat-trick of world champions Argentina within a week. On Tuesday, Messi also scored three times in the Albiceleste’s 6-0 win over Bolivia in World Cup qualifying.