Lionel Messi! Inter Miami legend takes Golden Boot lead + adds ANOTHER record | OneFootball

By MLSsoccer staff

Lionel Messi added another milestone and took sole control of the Golden Boot presented by Audi race heading into Decision Day.

The GOAT struck for a brace in Inter Miami CF’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday. It was his ninth multi-goal game, the most all-time in an MLS single season.

Messi moved ahead of Stern John (Columbus-1998), Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay-2000) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy-2019), who were tied with eight multi-goal games.

Messi’s two goals now give him 26 on the season, two more than LAFC talisman Denis Bouanga in the Golden Boot chase. Messi, who is the favorite to become the first back-to-back winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP, now has 44 goal contributions on the season, five shy of the single-season record by LAFC’s Carlos Vela set in 2019.

The Herons, who clinched homefield advantage in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, close out the regular season at Nashville SC next Saturday (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).

WATCH: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba put on SHOW!