Lionel Messi is close to breaking yet another record: the Inter Miami scoring record.
The Argentine’s journey in MLS couldn’t be off to a greater start — 10 goals in seven games and helping his club secure their first ever piece of hardware last Saturday when Inter Miami defeated Nashville on penalties in the Leagues Cup. He was the tournament's top scorer, most valuable player, scored in the final, and in every game played.
As incredible as Messi's impact was for The Herons in this tournament, the No. 10's scoring pace in his first set of games with the club might see the 36-year-old break a record few thought he could achieve so quickly after arriving in the MLS. He’s less than twenty goals from establishing himself as a club legend.
How many goals is Lionel Messi away from breaking Gonzalo Higuaín’s Inter Miami scoring record?
FC Barcelona, Argentina and now Inter Miami?
Only a month since being unveiled as an Inter Miami player, Messi is one good season away from becoming a historic player in Fort Lauderdale.
As of Aug. 21, 2023, Lionel Messi is only 20 goals away from breaking Inter Miami’s scoring record since their first professional season in 2020, a record held by former national team teammate Gonzalo Higuaín.
Higuaín played at Inter Miami between 2020 and 2022, scoring 29 goals and playing a total of of 67 games across his two-year stint in MLS.
El Pipita scored a goal every 2.3 games and only managed to score two goals in his first 10 games. Why are these statistics important?
Well, as mentioned, Messi has registered 10 goals in just seven games, scoring 1.42 goals per game and maintaining a scoring average of 0.7.
This means if the 2022 World Cup champion is able to continue the form shown in the Leagues Cup for the MLS restart, he could very well become the club's top-ever scorer before the end of Inter Miami's 2023 season, a record he already holds for Barcelona and the Argentina National Team.
As things currently stand in the Eastern Conference table, Inter Miami have 12 games left in their regular season, with little to no chance of being able to qualify for the MLS playoffs. Messi’s Miami are in 18th place, 14 points away from ninth placed Chicago Fire (play-off position). Thus, seeing the former PSG player rack up more games in the playoffs will be complicated.
Midweek was busy at the top of the Eastern Conference. #AllForCincy keep their winning ways out in front, with #NERevs looking to stay within reach. pic.twitter.com/VTI19w7uF5
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 13, 2023
Do you think the Argentine magician will be able to break the record before the end of the season?
