Fort Lauderdale –
Lionel Messi successfully scored a hat-trick in two consecutive matches together Argentina national team And Inter Miami. After recovering from the injury, La Pulga became even more crazy thanks to the cooperation of the two parties.
Messi scored his first hat-trick when he beat Bolivia 6-0 in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Conmebol zone, Wednesday (16/10) WIB in Buenos Aires. The 37-year-old striker also contributed two assists for Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez’s goals.
Four days later, Messi, who came off the bench in the 57th minute, successfully scored three goals in just 11 minutes to help Inter Miami beat the New England Revolution 6-2 in Fort Lauderdale in the final match of the 2024 MLS regular season.
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Messi’s contribution has an important impact on the two teams above. Argentina now occupies the top of the Conmebol zone standings with 22 points from 10 matches, while Inter Miami successfully broke the record for the number of goals in the MLS regular season, namely 74 goals in 34 matches.
Since returning to play after suffering an injury in the 2024 Copa America final last July, Messi has scored a total of 11 goals and three assists in nine matches, five of which ended in wins and the rest in draws.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino said Messi’s performance could not be separated from the collaboration between his club and the Argentine national team. The condition of the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain is always monitored.
“After the serious injury he suffered in the Copa America, we have to be very careful in his recovery and when integrating him into the team,” said Martino, quoted by ESPN.
“And I think the Argentine national team and we here are very careful about that issue and we end up supporting each other.”
“I think the match against Columbus (3 October) was very important, especially the second half, with Leo very involved in that match. And of course we also had support from the last match against Bolivia when he looked much more relaxed, much more rhythmic.”
“And of course today, I think the first ball he touched was a pass to Jordi Alba (for Miami’s third goal), so today the feeling was that we were in an ideal situation,” explained Martino.
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