Inter Miami skipper Lionel Messi gave another masterclass performance on MLS Decision Day, as he scored an amazing hat-trick and gave an assist, as his side won 5-2 against Nashville SC on October 18.
Lionel Messi wins MLS Golden Boot
With this dominating victory, Inter Miami secured third-place finish in the Eastern Conference and also sealed Messi his first MLS Golden Boot award, creating a season full of records for both the player and his side.
Lionel Messi's sheer dominance against Nashville SC
At Geodis Park, Messi kicked off the scoring with a signature curling shot in the 35th minute before Nashville made a remarkable comeback through Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg to lead 2-1 at halftime. In the second half, Messi's penalty in the 63rd minute equalised the match, and just minutes later Baltasar Rodriguez's goal put Miami ahead. The Argentine icon finished his hat-trick in the 81st minute with another great finish before giving an assist to Telasco Segovia at the stoppage time to seal a dominating 5-2 win.
Lionel Mess's stats in MLS regular season
Messi finished the regular season with 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games, providing him 48 goal contributions, just one shy of Carlos Vela's MLS record of 49 in 2019.
He cruised past LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville's Sam Surridge (both scored 24 goals) to clinch the 2025 MLS Golden Boot.
In reaching the milestone, he turned out to be the first Inter Miami player to win the Golden Boot and the first Argentine to win it since Valentin Castellanos in 2021.
Messi's 28 of 29 goals came from open play - the most in a single MLS season in league history. His 1.03 goals-per-game average ranks second only to Carlos Vela's 1.10 from 2019 among Golden Boot winners since 2005.
Will Lionel Messi win the MLS MVP award?
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also became the top-assist provider and is all set to lift his second consecutive Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after an already record-breaking 2024 season when he guided Miami to the Supporters' Shield.
What is next for Inter Miami?
Inter Miami now enters the playoffs as the No. 3 seed and will lock horns with No. 6 Nashville again in the Round best-of-three series.