Messi scored twice as Miami beat Columbus Crew 3-2 and secured the Supporters' Shield for the first time in its history.

The regular-season points record in MLS is also on the cards for Miami, though it must win its remaining two games before the playoffs in order to surpass the tally of 73 set by New England Revolution in 2021.

Messi is now focused on the next task at hand.

"We suffered until the end," Messi told MLS Season Pass. "It shows what this team is about."

In quotes reported by BBC Sport, Messi said: "The first objective has been achieved and now we have to think about what's next.

"The first round is three games but then it's one game and anything can happen. But we have the great advantage of playing all the games at home, which is what we were looking for. We are very strong at home."

Messi's sentiment was echoed by Miami manager Gerardo Martino.

"We reached the objective," he said. "We have good moments in the game, suffering moments in the game, and it happens to everybody to be able to achieve something.

“Now we can say, with our results and our game, we’re able to think that we've gotten to a higher level. I am not one of these people that strictly goes by results, that chases results. We are in a construction period and a building period, something similar.

"We are in the process of creating that thing, a franchise that thinks of more and that gets to win more than lose. And this is very essential, this is very important, that we've changed, and done so in a very short time. 

"With today, we've got 20 wins in the league, and at other times we couldn't have thought of that. To change that dynamic for us is very important."