Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains the greatest footballer of all time. The Argentine superstar secured both the MLS Golden Boot and a second consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after scoring a magnificent hat trick in Inter Miami’s 5–2 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night.

This regular-season finale not only highlighted Messi’s individual brilliance but also solidified Inter Miami’s position as a serious contender for the upcoming MLS Cup Playoffs, where they’ll face Nashville once again in the Round 1 best-of-three series starting next weekend in Miami.

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Messi’s Record-Breaking Performance Seals the Golden Boot

Messi entered the match trailing slightly in the Golden Boot race but wasted no time making history. He opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a trademark curling strike from outside the box — a finish that left Nashville’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Though Nashville SC rallied before halftime with goals from Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg to take a brief 2–1 lead, the second half belonged entirely to Messi and Miami. The Argentine captain leveled the score in the 63rd minute with his first penalty kick of the season.

Moments later, Baltasar Rodríguez pushed Miami ahead 4–2 before Messi completed his hat trick in the 81st minute with another sublime curler from distance — his 10th multi-goal performance of the season.

Messi could have added a fourth goal late in the game but instead selflessly assisted Telasco Segovia for Miami’s fifth and final goal, finishing the match with three goals, one assist, and four shots on target.

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Messi’s Historic MLS Season: 29 Goals, 19 Assists, Endless Records

The 2025 regular season will be remembered as one of the greatest individual campaigns in Major League Soccer history. Messi ended the season with 29 goals and 19 assists, contributing directly to 48 total goals for Inter Miami — just one shy of the MLS record (49) set by Carlos Vela in 2019 with LAFC.

His 29-goal tally earned him his first-ever MLS Golden Boot, surpassing both Sam Surridge and Denis Bouanga (24 goals each).

Through just two-and-a-half MLS seasons, Messi now has 50 career MLS goals, a remarkable feat that underscores his unmatched consistency and influence on American soccer.

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Mascherano Praises Messi’s Greatness

Following the match, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano praised Messi’s dominance and leadership:

“What can I say about Leo? He was exceptional, as he always is,” Mascherano said post-match. “If anyone had doubts about his season, tonight erased them all. He’s the clear MVP for everything he’s shown this year. We’re lucky to witness his greatness every game.”

Mascherano’s comments reflect the growing sentiment across the league — Messi’s arrival has elevated the MLS to new heights in global attention and competitiveness.

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What’s Next: The Quest for Messi’s First MLS Cup Title

While Messi’s individual accolades continue to grow, there’s one major prize still missing from his North American journey: the MLS Cup.

In 2023, Inter Miami missed the playoffs entirely, though they lifted the Leagues Cup. The 2024 season brought the Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record, but the Herons fell in the opening round to Atlanta United.

Now, with Messi firing on all cylinders and Inter Miami finishing as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, the club enters the playoffs with renewed confidence and championship aspirations.

Fans worldwide will be watching closely as Messi looks to cap off another incredible season with the one trophy that has eluded him since joining MLS — the MLS Cup Championship.