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Messi's record-setting night in US soccer

Staff WritersAP
Lionel Messi was in devastating form for Inter Miami in a big MLS win over the New York Red Bulls. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconLionel Messi was in devastating form for Inter Miami in a big MLS win over the New York Red Bulls. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

Lionel Messi has enjoyed a record-setting spree for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

The Argentine great scored a goal and had five assists as Inter Miami trounced the New York Red Bulls 6-2 in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night - with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as the game's best player setting no fewer than three league records.

The six goal contributions, five assists and five assists in a half were all new marks for the MLS.

Messi, who earned the MLS Player of the Month Award for April, has now scored and assisted in six consecutive league matches.

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"It has become redundant but it appears that he is always making history," Inter Miami coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said. "If something was missing, it was this - to contribute in six goals."

Luis Suarez had three goals and Matias Rojas scored twice as Inter Miami got six unanswered goals to come back from a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Messi and Suarez now have a league-leading 10 goals each, helping keep Inter Miami (7-2-3, 24 points) atop the Eastern Conference.

The win extended Miami's unbeaten string to six. The streak began after a 4-0 loss at New York on April 20, in which Messi did not play because of an injury.

"When he is not available, obviously, the team feels it," Martino said.

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