Lionel Messi scores twice, sinks Revolution before large crowd in Foxboro

FOXBORO – Lionel Messi came, saw and conquered on Wednesday night, as his brace powered Inter Miami CF to a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. The lively, season-high crowd of 43,293 — dotted with several pink and black Miami kits — was treated to a vintage display by the Argentine star, who became the first player in Major League Soccer history to score multiple goals in four consecutive regular season matches. The Revolution (6-8-6, 24 points) showed flashes of promise and made things interesting late in the game via Carles Gil’s eighth goal of the season, but missed several chances to put more pressure on Miami (10-3-5, 43 points). In the end, defensive miscues contributed to both Messi goals, as the Revolution extended their winless run to five. Messi opened the scoring with his 13th regular season goal in the 27th minute. He latched onto an errant, headed backpass by Revolution defender Tanner Beason, who was attempting to reset after Mamadou Fofana’s headed clearance. Messi one-timed the loose ball into the back of the net, past Revolution goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. The visitors doubled the lead 11 minutes later, as Messi ran onto a perfectly-weighted through pass from Sergio Busquets before tidily tucking his brace into the far corner. Busquets had plenty of space near midfield to pick out his pass, which traveled about 25 yards to meet the run of Messi, who beat Beason for speed and position before his sublime finish. Lionel Messi, left, of Inter Miami and Tanner Beason of New England Revolution collide during the first half of a MLS match at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald) New England created several chances off quick counter-attacks and fast breaks, working through Gil and attacking runs from Luca Langoni, Leonardo Campana and Matt Polster. One of the game’s most consequential plays arrived moments before Miami’s first goal, as Langoni rolled a low drive wide of the far post after getting played in by Gil on the left side of the box. If that chance had gone in, the Revolution’s position would’ve been entirely different — and Miami likely wouldn’t have gone downfield seconds later to take the lead. Campana got blanked by Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the second minute of first half stoppage time, and fired wide of the far post from distance before halftime. New England ramped up the pressure in the second half, with Gil firing wide of the far post (60th); Campana denied again by Ustari, and the rebound from substitute Tomas Chancalay finding only the side netting (65th); and Luis Diaz seeing his shot tipped over the bar by Ustari (73rd). Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami watches as Peyton Miller of the New England Revolution heads the ball during the first half of a MLS match at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald) Gil eventually produced the Revolution’s breakthrough, blasting a powerful drive from the top of the box after reclaiming possession from Miami’s Tadeo Allende. Miami created chances early, with Baltasar Rodriguez shooting over the bar after the remnants of a free kick (2nd); Messi curling a free kick into the side netting (9th); and Rodriguez turning to shoot wide of the far post (12th). Later, Messi dragged a shot wide of the far post following a giveaway by Fofana (32nd); and early in the second half, Allende had a low shot saved by Ivacic, with Luis Suarez’s follow-up header cleared off the line by Peyton Miller (53rd). It remains to be seen whether Messi, who played the full 90 minutes in this fixture for the second year in a row, will return to Gillette Stadium — barring an unlikely return to Foxboro in the playoffs. Wednesday was his last scheduled appearance in the Boston area. Messi’s contract runs through the end of 2025, and negotiations for an extension are ongoing. Interest from abroad is growing, including from Saudi Arabia, though it’s also possible he could suit up again for Argentina as it defends its FIFA World Cup title next summer. Leonardo Campana, left, of the New England Revolution heads the ball away from Sergio Busquets (5) of Inter Miami. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald) The tournament will be hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with Gillette Stadium set to host seven matches, including a Round of 32 game and a quarterfinal.