“We can finish at the top,” Messi declared after returning to play his first match for Inter Miami (winning 3-1 against Philadelphia Union on September 15), to continue leading the 2024 MLS standings with 62 points after 28 matches. In this match, Messi scored twice and contributed 1 assist to Suarez to seal the score.

“As I said at the beginning of the season, we all know that Inter Miami has a quality squad and winning championship titles is the biggest goal to aim for. We are realistic and responsible for that.

Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries this year and rarely had the full squad, for one reason or another. We’re always short of players,” Messi said in an exclusive interview with journalist Eduardo Biscayart on ESPN Deportes and AppleTV.

“However, the team always tries to overcome. I myself am eager to return to play, but I have to be patient and take it step by step. I am really eager to return after a long time away from the pitch. So now, we are still at the top of the table with a significant gap compared to FC Cincinnati (Inter Miami is 10 points ahead).

Hopefully, we can finish at the top, because this means a lot in terms of winning the Supporters’ Shield (for the team with the highest record in the entire MLS with 29 clubs in the qualifying round). Next will be the key match for the MLS Cup championship,” Messi emphasized.

Messi has just returned to action, but has already set a historic MLS record by becoming the first player in the history of the league to score 15 goals and provide 15 assists in his first 19 games. He is the fastest player in the history of the league to achieve this feat, 10 games earlier than the previous record holder, Sebastian Giovinco (29 games).

In addition, Messi is only 2 goals away from catching up with the record for most goals in the history of Inter Miami Club, held by former player Gonzalo Higuain. Messi currently has 27 goals in 30 matches, while Higuain has scored 29 goals in 70 matches. Striker Leonardo Campana is still playing, also scoring 29 goals but after 93 matches. Meanwhile, Suarez has scored 21 goals in 28 matches.

Inter Miami still have 6 matches left in MLS, needing to win 4 more of them to secure the Eastern Conference Supporters’ Shield. Messi could be selected to play, focusing on maintaining his fitness and best form towards the MLS Cup playoffs at the end of October.