Messi is close to winning the MLS title: What does he need to become champion with Inter Miami?

Lionel Messi is now even closer to the MLS Cup title after delivering a brilliant performance that only confirms his level remains absolutely superlative. The No. 10 dished out a goal and three assists to seal a dominant 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati and secure Inter Miami 's spot in the Eastern Conference Final .

Inter Miami also got a brace from Tadeo Allende, which helped break a three-year winless streak at TQL Stadium.

How many games does Messi have left to win the title?

After surviving this single-elimination match, Messi and Inter Miami will now face New York City FC . Keep in mind these are single-game rounds; they must win this one to advance to the title match.

This is the Eastern Conference Final-a stage Inter Miami (the Florida team) had never reached before. In this round, the higher-seeded team hosts the game. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played; if it's still tied, the ticket to the final is decided in a penalty shootout.

For Messi and his team to become MLS champions , they need to win two more games: the Conference Final and the MLS Cup itself, which they would play against the winner of the Western Conference Final .

"Proud of how the team played on a very, very difficult field and against a very, very tough opponent," Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said through a translator. "I think from the first minute it wasn't about holding back. It was about going after the game and being ourselves. I think today the players played a virtually perfect match."

Messi set a new MLS playoff record with 12 goal contributions-six goals and six assists. Cincinnati, meanwhile, entered the postseason with the second-best overall record in MLS behind Philadelphia after winning the Supporters' Shield last year. They also fell short in last season's conference finals, losing to the Columbus Crew .