Lionel Messi makes more history in MLS by pulling clear of Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Another record for GOAT after leaving Argentina squad to rejoin Inter Miami

Messi’s double against Atlanta has moved him onto 26 goals in MLS, pulling him clear in the Golden Boot race. He is two efforts ahead of LAFC talisman Denis Bouanga and favourite to defend his Most Valuable Player crown. If successful there, he would become the first player to go back-to-back in the MVP department.

Messi has also reached 44 goal contributions in total for the 2025 campaign, leaving him five adrift of ex-LAFC and Mexico striker Carlos Vela who managed 49 back in 2019. Inter Miami are safely through to the playoffs. They will bring the curtain down on their regular season schedule when facing Nashville on Saturday. The Herons have clinched homefield advantage in Round One of the playoffs.

They will be looking for Messi to deliver more moments of magic in the postseason, with his latest outing seeing the record books rewritten. The evergreen 38-year-old has become the first player to post nine multi-goal displays in a single season. Ex-LA Galaxy frontman Ibrahimovic is among those to have enjoyed eight (in 2019), alongside Stern John for the Columbus Crew in 1998 and Mamadou Diallo with Tampa Bay in 2000.

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Messi’s presence against Atlanta had been in doubt after being named in the latest Argentina squad. He did, however, play no part in a friendly contest against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium and had no need to travel out of Florida after seeing the Albiceleste’s clash with Puerto Rico on Tuesday moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale. As a result, he was granted permission to link up with his club side again.

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano said of securing Messi’s release for MLS duty: "Before the match, I talked to [Argentina manager Lionel] Scaloni, and he said no, that he was not going to use him, that he was going to sit him down. And I spoke to Leo to see if he could play. It was his decision, and clearly he saw the opportunity that if he wasn't going to play against Venezuela, we could use him. Leo, of course, was ready to do it.

"He is a very special player, he's an icon, and even though he didn't train last week with us, we saw what he did. He has helped us to win, he managed to score. That for him was important."

Inter Miami are hoping to give Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets the perfect sendoff, with it revealed that the two Barcelona icons will be retiring when the 2025 campaign comes to a close. Mascherano is determined to play some part in helping his former Camp Nou team-mates to another piece of major silverware.

He added: "It's a privilege for me, with him [Alba] and Busi, to be able to come back with them after seven years, to continue to live with them day to day, to share with them day to day. Unfortunately, perhaps I am the last coach for them … that makes me a bit nostalgic. He's been one of the best in history."

While Alba and Busquets are preparing to bow out, the expectation is that Messi will agree to prolong his remarkable playing career. No extension to an expiring contract has been signed as yet, but an agreement is said to be in place.

Those terms could take him beyond his 40th birthday - much like eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. It remains to be seen what the future holds for veteran Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, with long-standing knee problems having seen questions asked of his fitness for some time.