Lionel Messi Makes MLS History in Thrilling Inter Miami Win at Sold-Out Gillette Stadium

Kristen Wong | Apr 28, 2024

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

The magic of Messi Mania entranced a sold-out crowd at Gillette Stadium, as over 65,000 wide-eyed soccer fans watched the Argentinian superstar make an iconic piece of MLS history.

In Inter Miami’s 4-1 win over the New England Revolution on Saturday, Lionel Messi became the first MLS player to record multiple goal contributions (goals or assists) in five straight matches. His 16 goal contributions is also the most by any MLS player in the first seven games of a season, surpassing Thierry Henry and Carlos Vela, who each had 13 in that span. 

The one-time World Cup winner scored the first two goals for his team and also assisted former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez’s goal in the 88th minute. 

The 65,612 fans at Gillette additionally set a new attendance record for a Revolution home game, surpassing the previous mark of 61,316 in a 2002 MLS final against the LA Galaxy. Tickets to catch a glimpse of the Argentinian delight set fans back at $285 a piece, $10 more than the average ticket for a 2023 New England Patriots home game.

Messi’s dual record-breaking performance comes on the heels of him playing at another sold-out stadium at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, where Miami won, 3-2, against Sporting KC.

After Saturday’s win, Inter Miami sits first in the Eastern Conference with a 6-3-2 record. Messi, who bagged his eighth and ninth goals of the season, is chasing Gonzalo Higuain’s all-time scoring record for the club (29); he currently reigns as the top scorer in the MLS with nine goals in seven games. 

“People come to every stadium to see Leo, that’s true, but they also want their team to win,” Miami coach Gerardo Martino said Saturday. “We’re motivated by the atmosphere we always find where we play and this also incentivizes the opponents a lot.”