'Both goals were nothing' - Alexi Lalas suggests Lionel Messi's 'magical moments' in MLS are being overhyped after seeing Inter Miami star keep up 'torrid pace' against Nashville

The Argentine superstar was on target twice and laid on another for Sergio Busquets as The Herons swept to a 3-1 win over Nashville on Sunday.

But while former USMNT star Lalas described Messi's brace as routine, he added that the sheer consistency and productivity of the World Cup winner is providing MLS with the excitement previously associated with his performances with Barcelona and Argentina.

“He is incredible," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. "And this was such an interesting game because the goals that we have now started to associate him with MLS, we've been doing it for years with Barcelona and Argentina, we're associating with these magical moments.

"And yet both of these goals were nothing. If it wasn't Messi, we'd be like, yeah, okay, whatever, just scored a penalty and then a broken play that he did finish off.

"But, the greatness is in that Messi is doing this and he's doing it consistently and for this team in pink, each and every time they go out, they must see TV. And more often than not, they are delivering. And individually, when it comes to Messi right now, he is on a torrid pace and if he were to keep this up, we would see a historic production."

Messi has racked up nine goals and five assists in just 724 minutes of action this year and has helped raise Miami to a level where they are clear favourites for the MLS Cup, having previously been among the league's also-rans.

But, as Lalas also alluded too, the key will be keeping the great man fit as a series of minor injuries have hampered his game time since arriving in Florida.

The Herons fly north this weekend to face a New England Revolution side who have endured a shocking start under new head coach Caleb Porter. Inter Miami are sitting top of the Eastern Conference after their first 10 matches.