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The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 12

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Our MLS expert James Nalton explains his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of Matchday 12 and picks three more standout players from the latest round of action in Major League Soccer.

By James Nalton

The stars of Inter Miami continue to take the headlines in MLS and the team retains their spot at the top of the overall standings in the Supporter’s Shield.

We are used to standout players driving their teams to success in this league, but Miami have assembled a team that includes two world-class talents spearheading the attack, and look unstoppable when they hit their stride.

Elsewhere, a Canadian former MLS Cup winner is resurgent thanks to one of their Italian stars, and there is a hat-trick for an English centre-forward.

But first, to Miami…

The Top Two

9.7 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

It was the Lionel Messi show once again in MLS this weekend, as he broke the record for the most assists in a single game with five.

His goal which gave Inter Miami a 2-1 lead in the second half, having gone a goal behind in the first, meant he had six goal contributions in the game, which is also an MLS record.

It all led to a 6-1 win for Inter Miami against a New York Red Bulls team who didn’t know what hit them after they went in 1-0 up at halftime.

Actually, despite that turn of phrase, they’ll know full well what hit them — Lionel Messi. 

He did the same to New England last week and he’ll do the same to many more teams before the season ends.

9.8 FotMob rating: Luis Suárez, Inter Miami

It’s a testament to Messi’s displays that Suárez isn’t the star of the show in MLS week in, week out.

He scored a hat-trick against the Red Bulls this Matchday — all three of them assisted by Messi, which puts him alongside his teammate on ten goals this season so far.

Suárez is still as sharp as ever when it comes to scoring goals, finding an extra burst of speed and energy in those moments when there is a promising attacking move developing.

Each of his goals were clinical, textbook finishes, showcasing his world-class technique and movement.

On top of this, he added an assist of his own for Messi’s goal — a formidable partnership now doing the business in MLS.

Three more standout performers

9.7 FotMob rating: Sam Surridge – Nashville SC

If it wasn’t for Messi, Suárez would be taking this week’s Player of the Matchday honours, and if it wasn’t for Suárez, Sam Surridge’s performance in Nashville’s 4-1 win at home to Montréal would be the performance of the week.

Like Suárez, he scored a hat-trick of goals that displayed some clinical finishing ability and good movement to steer his team to a convincing win.

And it was much-needed for Nashville, who had gone five games without one and had only won once so far this season prior to this game.

His first goal was placed coolly into the far corner, his second turned home from the centre of the area from Hany Mukhtar’s pass, and his third was fired in on the half-volley after Mukhtar’s header came back off the bar.

A true centre-forward’s performance.

9.2 FotMob rating: Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC

Toronto have sneaked into the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference table and Federico Bernardeschi’s performances in recent weeks have played a big role in this improvement.

It’s now three wins in a row for the Canadian side who won a treble back in 2017 made up of the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and Canadian Championship.

The 30-year-old Italian scored twice and assisted another in a 3-1 win against FC Dallas this week, netting once from a rebound after his penalty kick was saved by Maarten Paes, and another via a goal-of-the-week contender from outside the box.

His assist was just as impressive, playing a neat ball into the box for Matty Longstaff.

The team that finished bottom of the Eastern Conference last season are starting to look like their old selves, and under new head coach, John Herdman, are threatening to become a quality outfit once again.

8.9 FotMob rating: Matías Rojas – Inter Miami

Suárez and Messi will take the headlines for Inter Miami and across MLS this week, but it was the introduction of Rojas at halftime that really helped them turn things around against the New York Red Bulls.

Rojas scored the equaliser and the goal that made it 3-1, both assisted by Messi, of course, before Suárez bagged his hat-trick to turn a win into a rout. 

Rojas also played a part in the goal by Messi that made it 2-1, winning the ball high up the field before Suárez played in Messi.

Rojas’s brace consisted of what were arguably the two outstanding goals of the game, amid a number of contenders, and the first of them, blasted into the top corner from outside the area, certainly gave Miami the belief they could turn the game around.

The 28-year-old Paraguayan was signed at the end of last month and is yet to make a first start for his new side, but in his second substitute appearance, he made a real case to line up from the off in the next game against Montréal.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 12

Our MLS expert James Nalton explains his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of Matchday 12 and picks three more standout players from the latest round of action in Major League Soccer.

By James Nalton

The stars of Inter Miami continue to take the headlines in MLS and the team retains their spot at the top of the overall standings in the Supporter’s Shield.

We are used to standout players driving their teams to success in this league, but Miami have assembled a team that includes two world-class talents spearheading the attack, and look unstoppable when they hit their stride.

Elsewhere, a Canadian former MLS Cup winner is resurgent thanks to one of their Italian stars, and there is a hat-trick for an English centre-forward.

But first, to Miami…

The Top Two

9.7 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

It was the Lionel Messi show once again in MLS this weekend, as he broke the record for the most assists in a single game with five.

His goal which gave Inter Miami a 2-1 lead in the second half, having gone a goal behind in the first, meant he had six goal contributions in the game, which is also an MLS record.

It all led to a 6-1 win for Inter Miami against a New York Red Bulls team who didn’t know what hit them after they went in 1-0 up at halftime.

Actually, despite that turn of phrase, they’ll know full well what hit them — Lionel Messi. 

He did the same to New England last week and he’ll do the same to many more teams before the season ends.

9.8 FotMob rating: Luis Suárez, Inter Miami

It’s a testament to Messi’s displays that Suárez isn’t the star of the show in MLS week in, week out.

He scored a hat-trick against the Red Bulls this Matchday — all three of them assisted by Messi, which puts him alongside his teammate on ten goals this season so far.

Suárez is still as sharp as ever when it comes to scoring goals, finding an extra burst of speed and energy in those moments when there is a promising attacking move developing.

Each of his goals were clinical, textbook finishes, showcasing his world-class technique and movement.

On top of this, he added an assist of his own for Messi’s goal — a formidable partnership now doing the business in MLS.

Three more standout performers

9.7 FotMob rating: Sam Surridge – Nashville SC

If it wasn’t for Messi, Suárez would be taking this week’s Player of the Matchday honours, and if it wasn’t for Suárez, Sam Surridge’s performance in Nashville’s 4-1 win at home to Montréal would be the performance of the week.

Like Suárez, he scored a hat-trick of goals that displayed some clinical finishing ability and good movement to steer his team to a convincing win.

And it was much-needed for Nashville, who had gone five games without one and had only won once so far this season prior to this game.

His first goal was placed coolly into the far corner, his second turned home from the centre of the area from Hany Mukhtar’s pass, and his third was fired in on the half-volley after Mukhtar’s header came back off the bar.

A true centre-forward’s performance.

9.2 FotMob rating: Federico Bernardeschi – Toronto FC

Toronto have sneaked into the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference table and Federico Bernardeschi’s performances in recent weeks have played a big role in this improvement.

It’s now three wins in a row for the Canadian side who won a treble back in 2017 made up of the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and Canadian Championship.

The 30-year-old Italian scored twice and assisted another in a 3-1 win against FC Dallas this week, netting once from a rebound after his penalty kick was saved by Maarten Paes, and another via a goal-of-the-week contender from outside the box.

His assist was just as impressive, playing a neat ball into the box for Matty Longstaff.

The team that finished bottom of the Eastern Conference last season are starting to look like their old selves, and under new head coach, John Herdman, are threatening to become a quality outfit once again.

8.9 FotMob rating: Matías Rojas – Inter Miami

Suárez and Messi will take the headlines for Inter Miami and across MLS this week, but it was the introduction of Rojas at halftime that really helped them turn things around against the New York Red Bulls.

Rojas scored the equaliser and the goal that made it 3-1, both assisted by Messi, of course, before Suárez bagged his hat-trick to turn a win into a rout. 

Rojas also played a part in the goal by Messi that made it 2-1, winning the ball high up the field before Suárez played in Messi.

Rojas’s brace consisted of what were arguably the two outstanding goals of the game, amid a number of contenders, and the first of them, blasted into the top corner from outside the area, certainly gave Miami the belief they could turn the game around.

The 28-year-old Paraguayan was signed at the end of last month and is yet to make a first start for his new side, but in his second substitute appearance, he made a real case to line up from the off in the next game against Montréal.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.