Messi could face Europe’s elite again as his 11-minute hat-trick fires Beckham’s Inter Miami into Fifa Club World Cup
LIONEL MESSI scored a stunning 11-minute hat-trick to book Inter Miami’s spot in the Fifa Club World Cup.
The expanded 32-team tournament will take place from June 15 to July 3 in the United States.
Elite European sides like Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG, Inter Milan, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are all in the competition.
And now Inter Miami have secured their spot in the competition by winning the MLS Supporters Shield.
The trophy is given to the team who finish the regular season with the most points in either conference, with the subsequent play-offs deciding the league’s actual champion.
Inter Miami secured the Supporters Shield by thrashing New England 6-2.
Messi scored three goals in 11 second-half minutes to take his tally to 22 goals in 22 games.
But ex-Premier League and DC United star Christian Benteke is a goal ahead of him at the top of the scoring charts.
Inter Miami have finished the season with the highest ever points tally with 74.
Messi celebrated the successful season by lifting the trophy on the pitch and was joined by club owner David Beckham, his wife Victoria and daughter Harper, 13.
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Meanwhile, his son Cruz, 19, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29, watched on from the stands.
But Fifa chief Gianni Infantino was on the field and announced their spot in the Club World Cup, saying: “You have shown that in the United States, you are consistently the best club on the field of play.
“Therefore, I am proud to announce that as one of the best clubs in the world, you are deserved participants in the new Club World Cup 2025.”
Beckham then took the microphone and delivered a rousing speech, saying: “Firstly, thank you to our coach Gerardo Martino and your staff.
“To our incredible team, our players, our captain has led us during times where it has been difficult.
“Tonight, we celebrate. But tomorrow we prepare for the play-offs.
“This was always about creating history for Miami, this was always about our family, the people in this stadium, the people in this city.
“Tonight is about you guys because you supported us in the tough times and now the good times.
“Let’s make this a great year and an even better year than it already is because it is already a special club.”