Lionel Messi on verge of another historic milestone

The final challenge in a career that has run out of challenges – the next mountain for a player who has already conquered them all – is now closer than ever. Lionel Messi is just two games away from lifting the MLS trophy, a dream for Inter Miami’s still-young franchise and a powerful lure for the unforgettable Argentine, whom history seems determined to reward with every title he has ever chased. That includes, of course, the one in the United States.

Who do Miami play in Eastern Conference final?

With Leo in imperious form, The Herons punched their ticket to the conference final after a resounding 4–0 win in Cincinnati. What the Argentine produced was staggering. He not only broke the deadlock with a deftly angled header past Celenteno, but then provided three assists to complete a rout and a performance straight out of a dream.

Mascherano’s side has set itself the goal of winning MLS, and only two steps remain. First comes the Eastern Conference final against New York City. The second and ultimate hurdle, should they advance, is the MLS Cup – the trophy that could place them atop American soccer for the first time in their brief history.

How many goals has Messi scored?

None of this would be possible without Messi. Even without his usual partner Luis Suárez leading the line – a controversial decision from Mascherano that ultimately paid off – the Argentine was untouchable. Operating with total freedom as a false nine, he took full advantage of Allende and Silvetti’s surging runs to unravel a home side that had beaten Inter Miami in the regular season but never looked close to repeating it.

Messi refused to give anything away. His goal pushed his season tally with Inter Miami to 35, including six in the playoffs. They are astonishing numbers for a player who seems without end, especially now that Mascherano has surrounded him with younger legs to fuel his game. Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who will retire when the season ends, will at least have one more match to savor something unique: the chance to play alongside Messi.

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FC Cincinnati

• 18 Roman Celentano
• 12 Miles Robinson
• 29 Lukas Engel (56')
• 4 Nick Hagglund (65')
• 16 Teenage Hadebe (77')
• 8 Brenner
• 20 Pavel Bucha (77')
• 10 Evander Ferreira
• 11 Samuel Gidi
• 66 Ender Echenique (65')
• 9 Ahoueke Denkey
• Substitutes
• 5 Obinna Nwobodo (77')
• 3 Gilberto Flores
• 22 Gerardo Valenzuela
• 27 Brian Anunga
• 13 Evan Louro
• 26 Ayoub Jabbari (65')
• 7 Yuya Kubo (65')
• 2 Alvas Powell (77')
• 23 Luca Orellano (56')

Inter Miami CF

• 34 Rocco Ríos Novo
• 32 Noah Allen (70')
• 18 Alba (81')
• 57 Marcelo Weigandt
• 37 Maximiliano Falcón
• 5 Busquets
• 11 Baltasar Rodríguez (75')
• 7 De Paul
• 10 Messi
• 24 Mateo Silvetti (81')
• 21 Tadeo Allende x2 (75')
• Substitutes
• 81 Santiago Morales
• 42 Yannick Bright (81')
• 2 Gonzalo Luján (81')
• 9 Luis Suárez (75')
• 29 Allen Obando
• 14 Patrice Picault
• 19 Ustari
• 6 Tomás Avilés (70')
• 8 Telasco Segovia (75')

Substitutions

Luca Orellano (56', Lukas Engel), Yuya Kubo (65', Ender Echenique), Ayoub Jabbari (65', Nick Hagglund), Tomás Avilés (70', Noah Allen), Luis Suárez (75', Tadeo Allende), Telasco Segovia (75', Baltasar Rodríguez), Alvas Powell (77', Teenage Hadebe), Obinna Nwobodo (77', Pavel Bucha), Yannick Bright (81', Mateo Silvetti), Gonzalo Luján (81', Jordi Alba)

Goals

0-1, 18': Messi, 0-2, 56': Mateo Silvetti, 0-3, 61': Tadeo Allende, 0-4, 73': Tadeo Allende