No one would’ve noticed if Lionel Messi had an off night.
A midweek match at the home of the New York Mets, the baseball diamond peeking out from below the grass on the narrow field, could’ve provided a mulligan. Messi didn’t need one.
He put together a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 4-0 win over New York City FC that saw Inter Miami leapfrog NYCFC in the standings.
It’s the type of performance that shows why Messi will win a second consecutive MLS MVP award.
After Miami repelled a strong start from the hosts, Messi went to work. On the opening goal, he checked over his shoulder, made a tidy turn and put a perfect ball through the legs of NYCFC defender Thiago Martins, weighing it so Baltasar Rodriguez needed to take just one touch to settle and another to score. Sergio Busquets rewarded Messi with the same type of pass in the 74th minute, allowing Messi to chip potential U.S. World Cup starting goalkeeper Matt Freese and extend the visitor’s lead.
[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]
After making way for Luis Suarez to take, and convert, a penalty, Messi went it alone for the cherry on top in the 86th minute, taking possession barely into the attacking third, driving past a defender and using his right foot to finish past Freese.
It may seem like a given: One of the best players ever, a reigning champion, being named the top player in a league that still is some levels away from being one of the world’s best. Yet, Messi faced stiff competition for the award this year, as a true race developed.
Anders Dreyer came into the league as a total unknown but has propelled expansion side San Diego FC to the top of the West with an MLS best 18 assists plus 15 goals for the record-breaking first-year team. Until recently, that led the league in goal contributions — though Messi has surpassed him.
Denis Bouanga is competing with Messi for the top scorer crown, having recorded 22 goals for LAFC. He has been in great form since the arrival of Son Heung-min, with seven goals in his last three matches thanks to a pair of hat tricks sandwiched around a one-goal showing.
Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda, with 16 goals and 14 assists, Nashville’s Sam Surridge, with 21 goals and FC Cincinnati’s Evander, with 17 goals and 13 assists, also have strong cases for individual recognition, and are going to make life difficult for voters as they select the league’s Best XI.
Yet, the decision for MVP is becoming more and more easy. Messi is going into his kick in this race, putting together stunning performances when it matters most. That has him pulling away from the impressive chasing pack.
Inter Miami’s participation in the Club World Cup and deep run in the Leagues Cup has resulted in a stack of games in hand. Despite the grind of playing each weekend and midweek, the victory over NYCFC is Miami’s third in a row. Messi has five goals and three assists in that stretch.
That has the Herons sitting in fifth place in the standings for the Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the best team at the end of the regular season. Win both of the matches delayed because of the congested calendar and Miami would not just be in the mix for the Supporters’ Shield but would be atop the heap.
Messi certainly has had help this season and wasn’t the only star performer Wednesday night. But Miami goes as he goes, and at the moment Miami is surging as a trophy threat.
The win in Queens clinched a playoff place for Inter Miami, meaning they’ll be able to fight for MLS Cup, even if their dreams of another Supporters’ Shield crown aren’t realized. Messi also became the first MLS player ever to put together a second consecutive season with a minimum of 35 goal contributions.
With five matches left, he’s still a fair bit off from Carlos Vela’s 49 goal contributions in 2019. Even with eight multi-goal matches already this season, it seems a bridge too far, but it’s worth noting that Messi has racked up these numbers in 23 MLS appearances. MVP rivals like Bouanga (28), Surridge (31) and Evander (29) all have played in more league games, yet still trail the figures Messi is putting up.
