<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a> once again showcased his quality with a clutch performance Saturday against the LA Galaxy, delivering both a goal and an assist. After getting on the scoresheet, the Argentine legend reached another major Major League Soccer milestone, ranking second only to a former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inter-miami/">Inter Miami</a> teammate.



Returning from the muscle injury he picked up against Necaxa earlier in August, Messi came off the bench in the second half against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-galaxy/">LA Galaxy</a>. With the score tied 1-1, he produced a brilliant solo effort in the 84th minute, smashing home a strike to put Miami ahead before adding a clever backheel assist to Luis Suárez just minutes later.



With his goal against the Galaxy, Lionel Messi became the second-fastest player in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls/">MLS</a> history to reach 40 career goals. Since joining in mid-2023 as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain, he has hit the mark in just over two years, appearing in 44 league matches to reach the milestone.



Messi has already rewritten MLS history in 2025. Earlier this season, he became the fastest player to reach 40 goal contributions—21 goals and 19 assists—in only 26 games. More recently, he set another benchmark by recording more than two goals in five consecutive matches, the longest streak in league history.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250817_WST_585149_lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-1200x675_d2b5e269.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF scores the team&apos;s second goal whilst under pressure from Edwin Cerrillo #6 of LA Galaxy during the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and LA Galaxy at Chase Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida." class="wp-image-585170" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/17131138/lionel-messi-inter-miami-la-galaxy-goal.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF scores the team’s second goal whilst under pressure from Edwin Cerrillo #6 of LA Galaxy during the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and LA Galaxy at Chase Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.</figcaption></figure>



Now 38 years old, Messi is on pace to surpass his best season with Inter Miami, which came in 2024 when he registered 23 goals and 13 assists in 25 games. This year, he already has 25 goals and 11 assists in 32 appearances, and with both the Leagues Cup and MLS playoffs still ahead, he could set numbers rarely seen in the league.


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<h2>Josef Martinez, the only name above Messi</h2>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/josef-martinez/">Josef Martinez</a> once shared the pitch with Messi at Inter Miami, helping the club capture the their first major trophy: the 2023 Leagues Cup. But years before their partnership, Martinez had already secured his place in MLS history.



As part of Atlanta United’s high-powered attack during the club’s early years in the league, Martinez—teaming up with Miguel Almiron—stunned fans with his scoring efficiency. With Atlanta, he became the fastest player ever to reach 40 MLS goals, doing it in just 42 games—two fewer than Messi’s tally.

Lionel Messi hits major MLS milestone in win vs. LA Galaxy, second only to former Inter Miami teammate

Lionel Messi hits major MLS milestone in win vs. LA Galaxy, second only to former Inter Miami teammate - World Soccer Talk

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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>’s arrival at Inter Miami has sparked a global phenomenon, drawing unprecedented attention to Major League Soccer. The impact has been felt not only by fans, but by the players who lived it firsthand. One of them stated that the Argentine superstar transformed the Florida club from one of the league’s worst into the “<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/">Real Madrid</a> of MLS.”



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/josef-martinez/">Josef Martinez</a>, one of the most prolific scorers in league history, joined Inter Miami in January 2023 from Atlanta United. When Messi arrived that June, the Venezuelan striker was already a key figure at the club. Speaking on the La Vinotinto podcast, Martínez shared what it was like before and after Messi’s debut.



“When I joined <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inter-miami/">Inter Miami</a>, it was El Combate (The Combat) FC. When it became official (Messi’s signing), it went from being the worst team in MLS to the Real Madrid of MLS,” Martinez stated. At the time, Inter Miami sat at the bottom of the table. But with Messi’s arrival, everything changed.



“Before Messi’s first training session, not even people on Instagram knew us, not even the club’s own journalists came. That was the first time I met my godfather, and people who didn’t even know I existed were writing to me. Outside, there were 1,000 journalists—when before, we had seen maybe one. And there were 50,000 people at the first training session. It changed overnight,” added Josef.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250505_WST_568362_lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-1200x675_ac1cecab.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-568376" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/05/05160951/lionel-messi-josef-martinez-inter-miami.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Now with the San Jose Earthquakes, Martínez recalled the moment Messi made his debut with a memorable free-kick winner against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. “The day that impressed me the most was the debut, when Busquets, Messi, and I came in—that famous free-kick goal.


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“Derek Jeter was there, Serena Williams, even LeBron James. If those people go to see that guy (Messi), just imagine how great he is. Even my mom didn’t want to go to games before, and at that point, everyone wanted to go,” he added.



<h2>Messi’s impact in the squad</h2>



The moment Messi arrived, Inter Miami were quite far from the playoffs zone and for being a dominant team in the MLS. However, Martinez admitted that his influence as a captain and his way of playing boosted a team that lacked from stars.



“He had already won everything, and yet he was there and was the first to arrive. He might be the most disciplined, but with us—or at least with me—he was great. That made you feel like you had to match his level. Before, there were players who couldn’t even complete a pass,” Josef Martinez admitted.



The striker then named the case of Robert Taylor, who has a great relationship, but struggled before Messi’s arrival: “Taylor couldn’t score on God himself. Messi arrived, and he became the team’s top scorer. Everyone’s level rose. The next day, you weren’t going to eat an arepa, because you couldn’t afford to fail. From being a team nobody watched, to being the biggest spotlight in the league—you couldn’t afford to fail.”



Two years after his arrival, Messi continues to captivate North America—breaking attendance records at Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, and Vancouver Whitecaps games. Most recently, NFL star Patrick Mahomes was spotted in the crowd for Inter Miami’s match against the NY Red Bulls, further proving that the excitement surrounding Messi hasn’t faded.

Former teammate says Lionel Messi turned Inter Miami from MLS’s worst team into its ‘Real Madrid’

Former teammate says Lionel Messi turned Inter Miami from MLS’s worst team into its 'Real Madrid' - World Soccer Talk

In his latest game, he scored three goals, and his new team, San José Earthquakes, prevailed 6-1 over DC United. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/josef-martinez/">Josef Martínez</a>, the Venezuelan striker who is playing his first season with the California team, uncovered himself with a hat-trick and increased his account in the list of historical goalscorers of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls/">MLS</a>, to reach 120 in the regular season and 127 taking into account the Playoffs.



The 31-year-old attacker occupies sixth place in the top of top scorers in the American league (only regular season), and the second South American with the most goals in the tournament, only behind the Bolivian, Jaime Moreno, who registers 133 goals, 13 more than the player originating from the city of Valencia, Venezuela.



Top 10 All-Time Goalscorers in MLS



<ul><li>Chris Wondolowski 169</li><li>Kei Kamara 146</li><li>Landon Donovan 145</li><li>Jeff Cunningham 134</li><li>Jaime Moreno 133</li><li>Josef Martínez 120</li><li>Bradley Wright-Phillips 114</li><li>Ante Razov 114</li><li>Jason Kreis 108</li><li>Dwayne de Rosario 104</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250408_WST_564454_Josef-Martinez-1200x675_3b455720.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-564457" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/08104037/Josef-Martinez.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Martínez’s journey to MLS</h2>



Josef Martínez landed in MLS in the 2017 season for Atlanta United from Torino FC. After seven seasons in Europe, he returned to the Continent to wear the Atlanta jersey, a team with which, from the hand of Tata Martino, he began to shine, was a scoring champion imposing a record and a league champion.


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<h2>Time with Inter Miami and Messi</h2>



After six seasons and 103 goals, in 2023 he left United and signed with Inter de Miami, sharing a locker room with Lionel Messi. He did not do well in that campaign, he only scored seven goals and in the following year he left to join the ranks of the Montreal Impact.



With the Canadian team he added another 11 goals. One campaign and he changed airs again, this time in California to join the San José Earthquakes, a team with which he already registers four annotations in six games, highlighting the hat-trick last Sunday against DC United.

120 goals and a former Messi teammate: Could MLS have a new all-time top scorer by season’s end?

120 goals and a former Messi teammate: Could MLS have a new all-time top scorer by season's end? - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mls">Major League Soccer</a> (MLS) clubs are finalizing their rosters for the 2025 season, resulting in a significant number of notable free agents. The availability of these experienced and talented players presents a prime opportunity for teams to strengthen their squads.



These free agents represent a significant opportunity for MLS teams to bolster their rosters. Their experience and proven abilities in the league will be highly sought after. 



The signings made during this period will play a crucial role in shaping the competitive landscape of the 2025 MLS season.



<h2>Top 10 free agents</h2>



<ul><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/carlos-vela/">Carlos Vela</a> (Forward, LAFC):&nbsp;A highly creative and prolific goalscorer, Vela was the 2019 MLS MVP and a key figure in LAFC’s 2022 MLS Cup victory. He played only 4 minutes this season.</li><li>Josef Martínez (Forward, CF Montréal):&nbsp;A decorated MLS veteran, Martínez won an MLS Cup, Golden Boot, and MVP award with Atlanta United. He remains one of the league’s top active goalscorers (14 goals, 3 assists in 26 games in 2024).</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241215_WST_544163_Josef-Martinez-1200x675_a3c6d5b4.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-544166" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085855/Josef-Martinez.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<ul><li>Xavier Arreaga (Defender, New England Revolution):&nbsp;A strong and consistent defender, Arreaga played a crucial role in Seattle Sounders’ 2022 Concacaf Champions League triumph (32 games in 2024).</li><li>Raúl Ruidíaz (Forward, Seattle Sounders):&nbsp;A prolific goal scorer, Ruidíaz played a key role in Seattle’s 2019 MLS Cup win and 2022 Concacaf Champions League victory (8 goals in 32 games in 2024). He is Seattle’s all-time leading scorer.</li><li>Fafà Picault (Forward, Vancouver Whitecaps):&nbsp;A versatile and dynamic winger, Picault has had a successful MLS career with Nashville SC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and Philadelphia Union (10 goals, 8 assists in 40 games in 2024).</li></ul>


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<ul><li>Johnny Russell (Forward, Sporting Kansas City):&nbsp;The captain of Sporting KC, Russell is known for his leadership and ability to score crucial goals (5 goals, 5 assists in 36 games in 2024). A club icon since 2018.</li><li>Jesús Murillo (Defender, LAFC):&nbsp;A strong central defender, Murillo was a key part of LAFC’s 2022 MLS Cup-winning team (34 games, 1 assist in 2024).</li><li>Albert Rusnák (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders):&nbsp;A creative midfielder with excellent vision and game management skills (11 goals, 16 assists in 42 games in 2024).</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241215_WST_544163_Albert-Rusnak-1200x675_fdc73de8.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-544164" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15085816/Albert-Rusnak.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<ul><li>Jeremy Ebobisse (Forward, San Jose Earthquakes):&nbsp;A mobile and clinical forward, Ebobisse has scored important goals for San Jose in recent seasons (10 goals, 1 assist in 35 games in 2024).</li><li>João Paulo (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders):&nbsp;A technically gifted Brazilian midfielder, João Paulo was vital in Seattle’s 2022 Concacaf Champions League success (32 games, 1 assist in 2024).</li></ul>


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Discover the 10 free agents searching for new opportunities in MLS for the 2025 season

The 10 star players who are free agents and are seeking a destination in MLS for the 2025 season - World Soccer Talk

The top 10 players available in MLS: Free agents seeking new homes for the 2025 season

The 10 star players who are free agents and are seeking a destination in MLS for the 2025 season

Latest news from Josef Martinez. Find out about all the news related to Josef Martinez on worldsoccertalk.com

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