The 2025 Main League Soccer common season is nearing its finish, and the playoff image is step by step coming into focus. Inter Miami are already among the many certified groups, regardless of having a number of matches nonetheless to play. In these remaining video games, Lionel Messi might be chasing a historic milestone at the moment held by Carlos Vela.
Messi is at the moment the highest scorer in MLS this season with 24 objectives, one forward of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and two away from Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. The Argentine ahead reached that tally largely within the second half of the yr, following his return from the FIFA Membership World Cup, with a number of multi-goal performances.
However objectives aren’t Messi’s solely contribution to Inter Miami. He’s additionally been a key playmaker. In that division, he ranks second within the league with 13 assists — tied with FC Cincinnati’s Evander and trailing solely San Diego FC’s Andres Dreyer (16).
These mixed numbers place Messi on the high of the aim contribution leaderboard for the 2025 MLS season. The 38-year-old star has recorded 37 direct aim involvements for the Herons in league play alone. That makes him the primary participant in MLS historical past to surpass 35 aim contributions in back-to-back seasons.
Lionel Messi is the MLS high scorer this season.
Messi chasing Carlos Vela’s document
The 37 aim contributions Messi has this yr tie him with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Josef Martinez on the all-time single-season record in MLS. Nevertheless, all three path Carlos Vela. The Mexican icon holds the all-time document with 49 aim contributions (34 objectives and 15 assists in 2019 with Los Angeles FC).
see additionally
Denis Bouanga breaks Carlos Vela’s historic document in LAFC win over Actual Salt Lake
That leaves Messi a major hole to shut: Leo wants 12 extra objectives or assists within the the rest of the 2025 common season to match Vela’s mark. With the season winding down, it’s a troublesome problem — however not unattainable.
Inter Miami maintain a scheduling benefit over most MLS groups: they nonetheless have two video games in hand after postponements because of their participation within the Membership World Cup and the Leagues Cup. That offers them a complete of 4 remaining matches within the common season. For Messi to match Vela’s document, he’ll must common three aim contributions per sport.
What matches are left for Inter Miami?
The Herons’ 4 remaining common season video games might give Messi the chance to achieve Carlos Vela’s document for many aim contributions in a single MLS season — and in addition permit the workforce to chase an much more important collective aim.
Seven factors behind Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami nonetheless have an opportunity to shut the hole within the Jap Convention standings and contend for the Supporters’ Protect, which might be the third official title in membership historical past. Their first check comes Tuesday in opposition to Chicago Fireplace, adopted by a house match on Saturday in opposition to New England Revolution. They’ll then host Atlanta United on October 11 and end the common season away at Nashville SC on October 18.
