In a city known more for country music than football, Sam Surridge is composing his own Nashville anthem. The English striker’s prolific form for Nashville SC has not only fired his club to their first US Open Cup title but also propelled him into an elite battle with Lionel Messi and Denis Bouanga for the Major League Soccer (MLS) Golden Boot.
Surridge, affectionately dubbed ‘Super Sam’ by fans, has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season — 23 of them in the league — making him one of the most lethal finishers in North America. Ahead of Nashville’s final regular-season game against Messi’s Inter Miami, the 27-year-old sits just three goals behind the Argentine icon, with Bouanga close behind on 24.
From Slough to Superstardom: The Rise of Sam Surridge
Surridge’s journey to the MLS spotlight has been anything but conventional. Once a Premier League hopeful with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, he’s now flourishing thousands of miles from home.
After learning his craft through a series of lower-league loans at Weymouth, Poole Town, Yeovil, and Oldham Athletic, Surridge made a name for himself during Forest’s 2021–22 promotion campaign, scoring crucial goals under Steve Cooper.
But limited opportunities in the Premier League saw him seek a new challenge. When Nashville SC offered him the No.9 shirt and a starring role in July 2023, Surridge seized the chance. “I wanted to play, to feel trusted,” he told BBC Sport. “Nashville gave me that faith — and I’ve repaid it.”
‘It Might Come Down to the Final Game’
With 23 league goals, Surridge has gone toe-to-toe with Messi throughout the season. “Midway through, I was leading, and then Messi caught up,” he laughs. “He scored five doubles in five games — unbelievable. It might come down to the final match.”
That decisive fixture will see Inter Miami visit Nashville’s Geodis Park, a purpose-built 30,000-capacity stadium that’s fast becoming a fortress. The clash will be one of the most anticipated games of the MLS season, with both teams fighting for playoff positioning — and the league’s top scorer crown.
Building a Soccer City in the Home of Country Music
Nashville may be known for its guitars and honky-tonks, but thanks to Surridge and his teammates, football is striking a chord. Since joining MLS in 2020, Nashville SC has seen a surge in support, capped by their historic US Open Cup triumph earlier this month — the first professional sports championship ever won by a Tennessee team.
“It’s becoming a real soccer city,” Surridge says. “Fans here love sport — they go to NFL, NHL, and now soccer. The Messi effect has made it even bigger. Every time Inter Miami visit, it’s a massive event.”
Looking Ahead: MLS Playoffs and World Cup Boost
Nashville currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, safely in the playoff zone, but Surridge is already looking further ahead. With the 2026 World Cup set to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, he expects football’s popularity in America to soar even higher.
“The World Cup will be huge here,” he says. “But the heat will be a big challenge — we sometimes train at 8 a.m. to avoid it. Playing midday games in that weather won’t be easy for anyone.”
Calm, Confident, and Composed
At 27, Surridge is playing the best football of his career — and credits experience and consistency for his growth. “You get calmer in front of goal,” he explains. “The backing of a club that believes in you makes all the difference. I’ve never felt this settled before.”
Off the pitch, life in Tennessee suits him perfectly. He lives in Nashville with his fiancée, young son, and their dog — far from the pressures of English football but close to the peak of his potential.
“I love it here,” he says. “It’s a brilliant place to live and play. I’m enjoying my football, and that shows on the pitch.”
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