MLS: Lionel Messi delights again, Inter Miami finishes at the top of the regular season

Untenable Lionel Messi. Carried by a double from the Argentinian, Inter Miami won a prestigious success on Wednesday in Ohio on the lawn of the defending champion Columbus Crew (3-2), enough to secure first place in MLS at the end of the regular season. Inter Miami thus wins the “supporters’ shield”, the name of the trophy awarded to the team which presents the best record at the end of the championship but before the play-offs, which will decide the champion from October 23.

On the lawn of the reigning champion, coached by Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, Messi scored the first two goals of a disjointed match, the second with a direct free kick. The 37-year-old Argentinian, who recently returned from a two-month break due to injury, has compiled 17 goals and 15 assists in 17 league games this season.

The Crew returned to 2-1 before immediately seeing Luis Suarez give Miami (3-1) some breathing room, preceding Cucho Hernandez’s score reduction from the penalty spot. The Colombian took another penalty at the end of the match, saved by Drake Callender. “I am happy to have accomplished this first objective and to be able to think about what comes next,” after dominating a “tough” opponent, Messi said on Apple TV.