Inter Miami CF midfielder Diego Gómez and captain Lionel Messi have both been named to the Team of the Matchday for Matchday 9 of the 2024 MLS regular season. Their outstanding performances were instrumental in Inter Miami's 2-3 victory against Sporting Kansas City over the weekend, earning them well-deserved recognition in the Team of the Matchday lineup. The duo put on a clinic in a packed Arrowhead Stadium with over 72,000 fans in the house, in what was the fourth-largest crowd in attendance for a match in MLS history.
Gómez secured a spot in the starting XI of the Team of the Matchday following his impressive performance during his 89 minutes of play in Kansas City. After conceding an early goal, Gómez and Inter Miami swiftly responded. In a display of remarkable skill and teamwork, Messi delivered a precise pass to Gómez, who made a darting run behind the backline and calmly slotted home a first-time finish with his right foot, leveling the score in the 18th minute. This goal marked Gómez's second in the regular season and his third across all competitions in 2024. In the 71st minute, Gómez demonstrated his prowess once more, exhibiting a commanding blend of strength and skill. He maneuvered past the Kansas City outside back and delivered an impeccably precise grounded cross to Suárez at the back post, who calmly tapped it into the net. Gómez's assist marked his fifth in the regular season, his sixth overall this year, and tied him with Messi and Gressel as the team's top assist providers this regular season.
Captain Messi secured his spot in the starting XI of the Team of the Matchday for the fourth time this season, delivering an electrifying performance on the road. Messi ignited the team's victory in the 18th minute by threading a precise pass with his left foot in behind the backline to the right foot of Gomez, who slotted the equalizer home. In the 51st minute, Messi received a pass from Ruiz and in three touches, the Argentine turned and struck an unstoppable crack from his left foot, netting the team's second goal of the match and giving Inter Miami the lead over the hosts. This goal marked Messi’s fifth in the regular season and his seventh across all competitions in 2024, achieved in just eight total appearances. With a goal and an assist in Inter Miami’s 3-2 triumph, Messi made MLS history by becoming the first player to produce five goals and five assists in the first five games of a season.
2024 Inter Miami Team of the Matchday Honorees:
- Matchday 9: Diego Gómez and Lionel Messi
