Messi Regains MLS Golden Boot Lead, And Oddly, Trump May Have Helped

President Donald Trump has been highly visible around the buildup to the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup before that.

And now, his administration may have inadvertently just helped Lionel Messi gain a decisive edge in the race for the MLS Golden Boot.

Messi scored a brace on Saturday night to propel Inter Miami to a 4-0 home victory over a woeful Atlanta United side, bringing his total to 26 goals on the season and restoring his lead atop the league scoring charts.

That by itself is hardly unusual. In fact, it was Messi’s MLS-record ninth multiple-goal game of the season.

But strangely enough, Messi may have been on the field on Saturday night because of the Trump administration’s escalation of immigration enforcement in the greater Chicago area, and the protest activity that has resulted.

Yes, you read that right. Let’s explain:

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An Unexpected Appearance

Saturday’s game was only one of five scheduled in MLS on the season’s penultimate weekend. All of those were rescheduled from earlier in the year, after the original MLS schedule was left completely dark to accommodate the October FIFA international window.

Clubs are required to release players to their national teams during those windows. Unlike some leagues, MLS doesn’t completely forbid games from being played in those windows, but it tries to avoid them, particularly in September and October as the playoff races ramp up.

Miami’s clash with Atlanta was moved from June 28 after the Herons advanced to the knockout phase of the FIFA Club World Cup, creating a conflict. And Messi and Miami teammate Rodrigo de Paul were both expected to be a part of Argentina’s national team friendly against Venezuela on Friday at nearby Miami Gardens, Fla., then immediately fly to Chicago to prepare for a Monday friendly against Puerto Rico to close the window.

But on Wednesday, an anonymous Argentine Football Association executive told the Associated Press that the match was being moved from Chicago to Miami because of the immigration crackdown and resulting unrest in the Chicagoland area. Promoters later confirmed the relocation (and rescheduling for Tuesday), but cited the official reason as low ticket sales.

Real Cause Is Unclear

The two causes given aren’t necessarily conflicting information, considering both teams are part of the Latin population that has been one of the focuses of the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement.

That focus may have been a reason for ticket sales lagging. They also may have provided a convenient way for the AFA to save face and explain the relocation without admitting they overestimated demand.

Either way, the relocation allowed Messi to forgo Friday’s friendly against Venezuela in order to be free for the Herons on Saturday, since the Albiceleste would be staying in the area for three more days. And the result was a two-goal performance that helped Messi break a tie with LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (24 goals). Fittingly, LAFC plays Sunday, but Bouanga won’t be available as he’s away trying to help his Gabon national team try and qualify for the World Cup.

Messi needs only to tie Bouanga and/or Nashville’s Sam Surridge (23 goals) to officially win the award, since he has 10 more assists than either, and that’s the first tiebreak. He may ultimately have another strong game in Miami’s regular season home finale against Nashville, against whom he’s scored eight goals in six appearances across all competitions.

But if the final Golden Boot tally is a tie or one-goal lead in Messi’s favor, it may go down as one of the wonkiest scoring title races in the league’s 30-year history, and the first in which a sitting president could have had an influence.

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