How do you stop Messi? Limit his touches? His service? MLS teams search for answers

Inter Miami leads the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings.

The Herons are on course to break the record for most points recorded in an MLS regular season.

Coach Peter Vermes : "Compact the middle" New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter : "You don't stop Messi , but you can limit his touches in key areas".

Inter Miami are 13 -9-5 when Lionel Messi does not play, but 18-6-8 when he does.

Inter lead the league this season in goals scored per game ( 2.3 ) and no team in MLS converts more shots into goals than the Herons .

Messi 's 1.9 goals plus assists per game is nearly a full goal more than any other player in the league.

Kansas City did well earlier this season to defend Messi in the first half by keeping him from the final third .

Inter Miami beat the New York Red Bulls 6 -2 in a record-setting victory.

Lionel Messi scored twice and played an integral part in the lead-up to the first strike by Luis Suárez .

The Argentine has scored and assisted in six consecutive MLS matches this season .