Movie theaters around the country may be showing “Superman,” but the real Man of Steel was doing his own hero work in Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Lionel Messi<\/a> continued his superhuman form Saturday night at Chase Stadium, logging a brace for a record fifth-consecutive MLS match to help Inter Miami CF<\/a> dispatch Nashville SC<\/a>, 2-1<\/a>, and end the visitors’ league-best 15-match unbeaten run across all competitions.<\/p>\n “There aren’t very many words. It’s incredible what he continues to do,” head coach Javier Mascherano told reporters post-match. “To break great records now every three days… I’ve said it a thousand times today; he is the flag for our team.<\/p>\n “He is the one. He’s the leader. He shows us the way to compete.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n With Saturday’s result, the Herons are unbeaten in six league matches while winning five in a row. Fifth in the Eastern Conference with 38 points, they have three games in hand on all four teams above them in the standings.<\/p>\n Messi (16g\/7a) has been the unquestioned catalyst.<\/p>\n At 38 years old, the legendary Argentine No. 10 has hit a vein of form that rivals the best stretches of his career. He’s bagged a brace in his last five league matches, logging an astounding 10 goals and five assists over this span.<\/p>\n Even more crucial is the quality of teams he’s faced over this period: Columbus Crew<\/a> and Nashville SC are among the MLS Cup favorites, while the New England Revolution<\/a> have been one of the most defensively stout teams in the league.<\/p>\n This conjures memories of Messi’s best moments, harkening back to a six-game stretch in late 2012 in which he produced a brace in six consecutive LaLiga matches for FC Barcelona.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nGOAT-level form<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n