Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami midway through the 2023 season and even though he helped the side win their maiden piece of silverware in the Leagues Cup, the Herons finished their Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. But that’s a thing of the past.
Inter Miami have had an incredible turnaround in the 2024 season as they are currently sitting pretty atop the MLS Eastern Conference standings, and are on the cusp of achieving a historic record. Messi’s men could become the club with the highest points tally in MLS history.
Currently, the New England Revolution hold the record for the highest points tally in a regular MLS season at 73 points set in 2021. Inter Miami, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Atalanta United on Wednesday, are currently at 63 points from 29 matches.
The Herons have five more matches remaining before the end of the league phase, they need just 11 points to surpass New England and script a historic achievement for the highest points record in MLS regular season games. Inter Miami need to win at least three games from their remaining five matches, to achieve the mammoth milestone.
Which teams will Inter Miami face next?
Lionel Messi’s men will face New York City FC on Saturday, followed by Charlotte, Columbus Crew, Toronto, and New England in their next five matches.
Miami recently welcomed back their talismanic captain Messi who scored twice during the 3-1 win over Philadelphia as the 37-year-old played his first game since July after sustaining an ankle injury in the Copa America 2024 final.
With a full-strength team available at his disposal, coach Gerardo Tata Martino will proceed with caution and rotate his players, as evident during the latest stalemate against Atalanta as Messi and Suarez were benched before coming on to feature in the second half.
Having already qualified for the MLS playoffs, Messi and his side will have their sights set on surpassing New England, a year after the disappointment of finishing bottom in the standings, and they will be hoping to win the Supporters’ Shield and plenty more silverware.