Tag Archives: Chase Stadium

Lionel Messi Helps Inter Miami Break Major League Soccer Record for Most Points in Single Season

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Lionel Messi has helped Inter Miami break a Major League Soccer record. 

The 37-year-old Argentine professional footballer scored a stunning 11-minute hat trick to his team break the MLS record for most points in a single season, after defeating the New England Revolution 6-2 on Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Lionel MessiMiami concluded the MLS regular season with 74 points in 34 games and a 22-4-8 (W-L-D) record, narrowly besting the Revolution’s 2021 mark of 73 points.

Luis Suárez propelled Inter Miami to rally from two goals down after 34 minutes, scoring twice in under four minutes to keep alive the chase for the points record.

Benjamin Cremaschi then put Miami ahead for the first time in the 58th minute.

But it was captain Messi who fittingly cemented Inter Miami’s name in league history when scoring the fourth, fifth and sixth goals.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner came off the bench in the 55th minute to make an instant impact with his first hat trick for Miami, in the process becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals.

Miami also became the first team in MLS history to have multiple players score at least 20 goals in a season.

With 20 goals apiece, Messi and Suárez are set to finish second in the Golden Boot race to D.C. United’s Christian Benteke. Messi, though, leads the league in total goal contributions with a combined 36 goals and assists in only 19 games.

“Our players are what has made this season successful,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. “Our captain has led us. Our players have led us in times where it was difficult. But now, tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow, we prepare for Friday, the playoffs.”

It was a night of celebration for Miami. The team was awarded the 2024 Supporters’ Shield after the final whistle, having clinched the prize for best regular-season record in MLS for the first time earlier this month.

The trophy was Miami’s first piece of MLS silverware since debuting as an expansion club in 2020.

Inter Miami previously lifted the inaugural MLS vs. Liga MX Leagues Cup trophy soon after Messi’s arrival in the summer of 2023.

After Saturday’s win, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Miami would take part in the 2025 Club World Cup and host the expanded 32-team tournament’s opening game at Hard Rock Stadium.

More immediately, Inter Miami will now have home-field advantage through the MLS playoffs. The team kicks off the postseason Friday against the winner of the Eastern Conference wild-card match between CF Montreal and Atlanta United.

“Let’s get ready for the playoffs,” Beckham said.

River Plate’s Héctor David Martínez Joins Inter Miami CF on One-Year Loan

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Héctor David Martínez is headed to South Florida.

Inter Miami CF has signed the 26-year-old Argentine professional footballer and River Plate defender ahead of the 2024 Leagues Cup, including him in the official roster for the competition.

Héctor David Martínez,He joins the team on a one-year loan from the Argentine side until July 2025, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the spell.

Martínez joins after making just five appearances in all competitions for the Argentinian giants, racking up 182 minutes of action.

“I’m really happy and excited to join Inter Miami. I was thrilled about the opportunity to come here. Finally, it’s happened, and I’m really happy to get this new chapter in my career started,” said Martínez.

“The goal here is to help the team, keep growing, and hopefully, win some titles.”

The centerback kicked off a professional career with River Plate, working his way through the youth system before debuting in the first-team under Marcelo Gallardo in December 2018.

The player also saw time with Defensa y Justicia, recording two goals in over a year before returning to River Plate initially on loan and then permanently.

Internationally, he’s appeared for the Paraguay national team on 11 occasions.

Now, he is set to play a starting role alongside Inter Miami defenders Jordi Alba, Tomás Avilés and Marcelo Weigandt given the team’s current injuries to the backline. Key centerback Serhiy Kryvtsov picked up an ankle injury during the match against Toronto on July 17, forcing head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino to play midfielder Sergio Busquets in that position for the time being.

The former Barcelona player can now be expected to return to his normal placement as Martínez joins the team.

Reigning champion Inter Miami kicks off the 2024 edition of Leagues Cup on Saturday when hosting Puebla at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Unlike last year, the Herons enter the competition in a great position as leaders of the MLS Eastern Conference with 53 points in 25 games.

The team will then face Tigres UANL at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in the hope of advancing to the knockout round.