The Argentine looks set to smash several single-season benchmarks in his first full campaign in the U.S.

When Lionel Messi does hang up his boots – and that day is coming sooner than many are willing to accept – he’ll have made his mark on the record books, to say the least. Messi basically tore up everything that preceded him during his time at Barcelona, so much so that the sport can now basically be defined by two eras: pre-Messi and post-Messi.

The MLS and Inter Miami record books are obviously much newer. The league is still in its infancy compared to its European counterparts, while compared to Barcelona, Miami is essentially a newborn. Their records are still being written and none are particularly set in stone.

He’s less than a year into his Miami career, but Messi is already taking down MLS marks left and right. The Argentine is destroying all in his path to start this season, and he’s showing no signs of stopping.

On current pace, Messi looks set to challenge some of the league’s top marks, and while nothing is guaranteed, particularly with a Copa America coming this summer, it seems like MLS’ record books are being rewritten before our very eyes by a player that’s no stranger to rewriting them.

Messi missed about a month of MLS games due to injury. If you look at his stats, though, you’d have no idea. The Argentine has more than made up for lost time, scoring goal after goal to open his MLS campaign. In seven matches, including six starts, Messi has directly contributed to a total of 16 goals. All of that has come in just 585 minutes, which means Messi is averaging a goal or an assist every 36.5 minutes. Even by Messi standards, that’s absurd.

He’s scored nine of his own and set up seven more, contributing to all-but four of the goals scored in the games he’s played for the Herons. With Messi on the field, Miami have dropped just four points from those seven appearances.

Despite missing time, Messi is leading the league with his nine goals, one more than Real Salt Lake’s Chicho Arango and D.C. United star Christian Benteke. In assists, Messi is also the league leader, level with Arango and Minnesota United playmaker Robin Lod.

All of that despite missing four matches due to injury. It’s no surprise, though… just Messi being Messi.

It’s not just the volume of goals, but rather the consistency. When Messi is on the field, you can basically guarantee multiple goals for Miami.

In his seven MLS appearances so far this season, Messi has contributed to more than one goal in all-but one. His most recent effort? A two-goal, one-assist explosion against the New England Revolution, matching a previous two-goal, one-assist explosion against Nashville SC just one week prior.

With his performance against the Revs, Messi became the first player in MLS history to record multiple goal contributions in five consecutive games. He also earned some unsurprising recognition from those at the league office…

On Monday, MLS made it official… not that we didn’t know it was coming. Messi was named MLS Player of the Matchday for Match 11, meaning the Argentine has claimed the award in two of the last three weeks.

By winning the prize, Messi joins Luis Suarez in winning it twice in this young season. The South American duo are the first pair of teammates to earn multiple Player of the Matchday honors in the first 11 matchdays since Landon Donovan and David Beckham did so for LA Galaxy. That’s decent company, for sure.

Additionally, Miami are the first club to have earned four of the first 10 Play of the Matchday honors since 2021, when the Galaxy did the same. It’s safe to assume that Messi isn’t done, though. There are plenty of goals and records still very much in his sights.

Credit: Goal.com

Manchester United announced more changes to its executive structure on Tuesday as the new era under co-owner Jim Ratcliffe continues to take shape.

Interim CEO Patrick Stewart and chief financial officer Cliff Baty will step down at the end of the season by mutual consent, the club said.

Jean-Claude Blanc, CEO of Ratcliffe’s INEOS Sport, will take over as chief executive until former Manchester City executive Omar Berrada takes on the role on July 13.

Baty will be replaced by former INEOS Sport chief financial officer Roger Bell.

“I would like to personally thank both Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to now move on as we establish a new management team for the club,” Ratcliffe said.

The billionaire owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS bought a 25% stake in United in February, and his investment has already seen a host of major changes at the club.

Former CEO Richard Arnold stepped down in November and football director John Murtough left earlier this month.

Ratcliffe’s investment, which will eventually rise to a 27.7% stake, has seen him assume control of United’s soccer operations.

INEOS director of sport Dave Brailsford and Blanc have joined the board of the club.

As well as the appointment of Berrada, former City academy director Jason Wilcox has been hired as technical director.

Pep Guardiola has revealed Erling Haaland could miss Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

Haaland was substituted before the start of extra time in City’s Champions League quarter-final second leg defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Guardiola said after the penalty shoot-out loss that the Norway striker asked to be withdrawn but did not give a reason why.

The City boss has now confirmed Haaland suffered an injury against Real and suggested it was not certain his leading scorer would recover in time for the FA Cup holders’ clash with Chelsea.

“We will see. It was a tough game, a lot of action, high intensity for both sides,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

“Erling felt something, a muscular issue. That’s why he told me he could not continue.

“The doctor said he had a little bit of niggles, a little problem, we will see how his evolution is in the next hours.”

While Guardiola sweats on Haaland’s fitness, City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne should be involved against Chelsea after being taken off during extra time against Real due to fatigue.

Given City’s hectic schedule, Guardiola conceded it is understandable that players are tired at this stage of the season.

“It’s normal with the amount of games we are playing this season and the previous seasons and not much recovery, and extra time and high intensity,” he said.

“We put a lot of pressure in our game and that’s why the fatigue is there. They are human beings. They are not a machine. We are used to it.”

The agonising shoot-out defeat by Real ended City’s hopes of winning a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble for a second consecutive season.

But they remain on course to repeat the domestic double and Guardiola is determined to ensure the Premier League leaders bounce back from their European frustration.

“We don’t have another option. I don’t want us to feel sorry for ourselves,” he said.

“In football, you lose games. We performed at our best and we were not able to win. You have to accept it.

“We did everything. We know it, they know it, all the world know it, but it was not enough. When it’s not enough, it’s a bad night. So congratulations (to Real) and, tomorrow, FA Cup.”