Messi leads his team to victory after international retirement

Uruguayan Luis Suárez had given the "Herons" the lead by scoring two goals in the first half, raising the team's points to 49 from 13 wins, 5 losses, and 10 draws, advancing from third to second place in the Eastern Region.

Messi hopes Miami will become the first team to win the American League title for two consecutive seasons since Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2011-2012 season.

Messi tops the league's top scorers with 23 goals, in addition to 13 assists, and he is seeking to win the league's best player award for the third consecutive season.

Suárez opened the scoring in the third minute, when he fired a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area into the upper left corner of the goal.

The former Barcelona and Liverpool star scored his second goal in the 39th minute, his 16th of the season, after receiving an assist from German Jermaine Bertrem, who also created the first goal.

Messi scored Miami's third goal with a left-footed shot after a pass from Suárez, before bypassing three defenders and adding another goal 13 minutes later, confirming the home team's dominance until the end.

In other matches, Scottish striker Lewis Morgan and American Đorđe Mihailović scored two goals in stoppage time of the second half, leading Toronto to a 2-1 home win over Montreal.

Toronto ended a series of three consecutive defeats and came within just one point of a playoff spot in the Eastern Region.

In Chicago, Swiss striker Marin Haile Selassie scored a goal in the 87th minute to give Chicago Fire, who completed the match with ten players, a 2-1 victory over New York City.