‘No other player can’ – Lionel Messi’s ‘best’ qualities highlighted by MLS rival after putting on another masterclass for Inter Miami against the New England Revolution

The Argentine icon put on another masterclass for the Herons as they claimed a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution. Messi delivered the kind of show that 65,000 spectators turned up to witness, as he bagged a brace and created another in a comfortable win for the visitors at Gillette Stadium.

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The Revolution thought that they had a plan for dealing with Messi, but centre-half Xavier Arreaga admits that there is no stopping the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner when he is in the mood. He said in the Boston Globe: “That kind of player, that’s why he’s the best, because he can find the space that I think no other player can find. Obviously they also have a good player like [Sergio] Busquets, they know the perfect pass between them. It was hard because I think the first 35 minutes, we did a great job trying to block most of the passes for Messi, but at the end of the day, we couldn’t do that and he scored.”

New England captain Carles Gil added on trying to contain the obvious threat that Messi poses: “You need to be focused for 90 minutes. If you only last 45 minutes, [Messi] scores two goals and one assist. He’s focused for 90 minutes.”

Messi’s magical display in Massachusetts has kept Inter Miami at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. He now has 11 goals through 10 appearances this season and will be back on home soil next time out when the Herons play host to the New York Red Bulls.