Lionel Messi nets stunning 11-minute hat trick as Miami set MLS record

Lionel Messi fired home a breathtaking 11-minute hat trick as Inter Miami smashed the MLS regular-season points record on Saturday night.

Messi, 37, only entered the game early in the second half after starting on the bench ahead of next week's playoffs.

In the span of about 30 minutes, the soccer icon had three goals - his first MLS hat trick - and an assist in a resounding 6-2 victory over New England.

Teammate and good friend Luis Suarez also scored twice as Miami set MLS records for both most points and best winning percentage. Tata Martino's men finished with 74 points, one more than New England had in its record-setting season in 2021.

After the win Miami also celebrated the Supporters' Shield - which it won earlier this month on the road at Columbus - in a ceremony for the home fans as co-owner David Beckham made his way onto the field.

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The party was going to happen either way. Messi just made it even more special.

'Our players are what has made this season successful,' Beckham said in a speech on the field. 'Our captain has led us. Our players have led us in times where it was difficult. 

'But now, tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow, we prepare for Friday, the playoffs.'

At 22-4-8 in league play, Miami finished the season with a .765 winning percentage for another MLS record. 

Four teams - D.C. United (24-8) and the LA Galaxy (24-8) in 1998, LAFC (21-4-9) in 2019 and New England (22-5-7) in 2021 - had finished an MLS season with a .750 winning percentage, which was the best until Saturday night.

Now, the top spot is Inter Miami's by any measure, both in terms of points and best won-lost-tied mark. 

Miami also became the eighth team in MLS history to get through a regular season with only four losses, tying another record.

Suarez and Messi finished with 20 goals apiece, the first MLS teammates to reach that milestone in the same season. It was Messi's first hat trick for Inter Miami, the team the Argentine superstar joined midway through the 2023 season in a huge victory for MLS.

If all that wasn't enough, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said after the match that Inter Miami - as has been generally expected - would be in the Club World Cup next summer as the host country representative. The tournament starts June 15, 2025 in Miami Gardens, and Inter Miami will play the first match.

Messi finished the regular season with 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 matches. Suarez got to 20 goals in his first MLS season, his two goals Saturday - coming about three minutes apart - helping Inter Miami erase an early 2-0 deficit.