Into the spotlight
If there's one player more than any other who's shaped a footballing narrative over the years, it's the diminutive Argentinian.
Whether he's the best to have ever played the game is purely subjective, but what isn't in doubt is that he is, and will remain for some considerable time, the best player in Barcelona's history.
Many of his records are destined to remain unbeaten.
For example, he remains the only player to score more than 30 official goals in 12 consecutive seasons (2008-2020), he is the top scorer in a calendar year (91 goals in 2012), and is also the top scorer in a LaLiga season (50 goals in 2011/12).
Currently, Messi can also lay claim to being both LaLiga's all-time top scorer and assist leader.
Whilst his short period at Paris Saint-Germain was largely uneventful by comparison, his move to Inter Miami saw another surge of interest in the game in the USA, which hasn't yet diminished - and for good reason.
Gold standard
Everyone is still clamouring to see a player who, at almost 38 and a half years old, is still setting the gold standard.
This October, Inter Miami played five matches and won four convincingly, losing just one.
A 5-3 home defeat to Chicago Fire on the first day of the month saw Messi come close to adding to the score, with the woodwork denying him twice on the night.
Three assists in the 4-1 win over New England Revolution - Sergio Busquets' last MLS game at home for Inter - followed, before two goals plus an assist for Jordi Alba helped dispatch Atlanta United 4-0.
A Messi hat-trick was the highlight of a brilliant 5-2 win away at Nashville in the final regular season game, before Inter defeated the same opponent (3-1) in game one of the playoffs, with Messi grabbing two more, including a superb diving header after a one-two with Luis Suarez.
Seven goals and six assists in four games is an astonishing return for any player, let alone one that is approaching his 40th birthday, and so with all of this taken into account, he scored an incredible 9.1 rating over the last month in Flashscore's rating system.
'He carries the team when it matters most'
Messi has already won the Golden Boot for the 2025 MLS campaign and could shortly become the first-ever player to win back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP awards.
32 goals scored in the current season (only one penalty) is at least 20 more than any other Inter player this season, and his 16 assists are the most in the entire squad.
Messi has also made the most fast breaks (12), hit the woodwork the most times (six), and with 863 total passes across the campaign, has made 173 more than any of his colleagues.
His Inter Miami head coach, Javier Mascherano, had the luxury of playing alongside Messi for both club and country, and now has the task of getting the best out of his former colleague, whilst being mindful of the load being placed upon him.
After the forward's recent hat-trick against Nashville, Mascherano attempted to explain what it is that still makes Messi special.
"He's happiest when he's on the field, but sometimes we have to slow him down," he told reporters.
"He carries the team when it matters most. He played whilst injured, with the pain he had in his quadriceps, and how he kept running is crazy. He is very, very competitive, and he tried to translate that to the team to show how competitive he is.
"Nobody is indispensable in football except Messi. He's the best in the history of the game."
View from the ground
As someone who has followed Messi throughout his career, Flashscore features writer Jason Pettigrove gave his own thoughts on yet another successful stage of the No.10's epic career.
"When Lionel Messi's achievements at Inter Miami are put into context, whilst they won't be considered on a par with his best years at Barcelona, they've certainly defined an era in MLS.
"Arguably, he has had the biggest ever impact on the league since his move in 2023, which is some statement from 'La Pulga' when one considers that the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and other big names have all plied their trade stateside at some point.
"Let's not forget either that at a time when the majority of players have already hung up their boots, Messi isn't just strolling around and waiting for his own retirement to become a reality.
"It's not even the goals or assists that continue to mark him out amongst his contemporaries either, but the way in which he still dictates every aspect of team play.
"He's absolutely the main driving force behind Miami's attempts to be successful and is earning every last penny of his deal.
"To still be doing that week in and week out at his age - and remember he's recently signed a new contract so will be around for a while yet - is enthralling, captivating and frankly, astonishing."
