Lionel Messi locked up a second straight MLS MVP honor and his first Golden Boot after recording a hat trick during Inter Miami’s 5-2 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday. It was his 10th multi-goal game of the season.
The match was the regular-season finale for both teams with Inter Miami securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference and Nashville settling for the sixth seed. The two teams will meet in the best-of-three Round 1 series beginning next weekend in Miami.
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Messi opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a curling effort from outside of the Nashville penalty box.
Nashville would take the lead just before halftime after goals from Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg.
But Inter Miami found the equalizer in the 63rd minute via Messi’s first penalty kick of the season.
Baltasar RodrÃguez would put the Herons up 4-2 in the 67th minute and Messi would get his hat trick 14 minutes later with another curler.
It was nearly a four-goal night for Messi, but he decided to pass up a prime scoring opportunity and lay the ball off to Telasco Segovia for Inter Miami’s fifth of the night. Messi ended his evening with 3 goals, 1 assist and 4 shots on target.
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Messi finishes the regular season with 29 goals — one fewer than the D.C. United — and 19 assists for a total of 48 goal contributions — one behind the MLS record of 49 set by LAFC great Carlos Velas in 2019. A first career MLS Golden Boot is likely Messi’s with LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (24) needing six goals Saturday night against Colorado to surpass him.
“Well, what can I say about Leo? The truth is, well, today he was exceptional, as he usually is,” Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said afterward, via ESPN. “Clearly, I think if anyone had any doubts about what his regular season was like, the reality is that he’s cleared any doubts. They’ll surely give him the MVP award for everything he’s shown.
“Talking about the three goals he scored, well, happy for him because he helped us win the game again.”
Now through two-and-a-half MLS seasons, Messi has 50 career MLS goals. But missing from his American soccer adventure is an MLS Cup title. Inter Miami failed to reach the playoffs during his first season in 2023, though they did win Leagues Cup. After winning the Supporters’ Shield as the best regular-season team in 2024, they fell in the opening round to Atlanta United.
