Lionel Messi has enjoyed a historic first full year in MLS with Inter Miami, with the Argentine currently in his best form all season.
With Andres Iniesta sharing that Messi looks happy at Inter Miami, the 37-year-old forward is looking as good as he has for all of 2024 after scoring back-to-back hat-tricks this month for Argentina and with the Herons.
Lauded as the best player in the world by Jordi Alba, Messi’s form this year has been quite something even with the attacker missing nearly half the season with Inter Miami due to various injuries and international commitments.
And Kieran Gibbs has now shared one thing that Messi has done this year that has left him speechless.
Gibbs stunned by Messi’s form after returning from injury
Speaking on the Inter Miami Weekly Show, the former Arsenal defender shared how amazed he was by Messi’s form after returning from injury for the Herons, with the Argentine not missing a single beat in MLS action.
With eight goals and two assists in the eight games Messi has played since coming back from the treatment table, the former FC Barcelona superstar has been one of the best players in MLS heading into the post-season, and Gibbs has been stunned by how good the forward has been.
Gibbs said: “I saw pictures of his ankle and it was like a balloon, I was concerned for him and the team. But he came back and it was like he hadn’t been missing. It’s so difficult to come back after two months with an ankle injury and look and feel the same.
“Most of the time it takes players two or three games to get back into the rhythm, but I don’t even know how long he scored after his first game back, he just defies logic sometimes and he defies physics with the way he plays the game.”
How good has Messi been for Inter Miami in 2024?
Messi might have missed nearly half the season for Inter Miami, but that hasn’t stopped the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner from showing why he’s still considered one of the best players in the world at the age of 37.
| Lionel Messi for Inter Miami in 2024 | Games played | Goals | Assists |
| MLS | 19 | 20 | 10 |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| MLS play-offs | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 23 | 22 | 13 |
As per Messi’s stats for Inter Miami this season, the veteran attacker has made MLS look like a walk in the part with an incredible 35 goal contributions in 23 games for the Herons, a record that has helped the Florida franchise reach the post-season.
And with Messi now fully fit, this tally could easily grow by another ten digits if the Argentine international can remain healthy in the coming weeks, with Inter Miami’s MLS Cup dreams hinged on the attacker’s form and presence.