FORT LAUDERDALE — Messi once again proved why he is one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Argentine superstar delivered a spectacular hat-trick to secure the MLS Golden Boot on Saturday night, leading Inter Miami to a thrilling 5-2 victory over Nashville SC.
With this performance, Messi finished the regular season with an incredible 29 goals in 28 matches, outpacing Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC and Sam Surridge of Nashville, who both tallied 24 goals.
This marks Messi’s first MLS Golden Boot, adding yet another accolade to his legendary career. His three goals also put him in pole position to claim a second consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Inter Miami’s emphatic win secured third place in the Eastern Conference, setting up a first-round MLS Cup playoff clash against Nashville on October 24.
“What can I say about Leo?” said Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano after the match. “Today he was exceptional, as he usually is. Surely, Messi will be awarded the MVP for what he has demonstrated this season. I’m happy for him because once again, he helped us win the match.”
The match itself was a showcase of Messi’s brilliance and Miami’s resilience. Despite falling behind in the first half, Miami dominated the second period, driven by their captain’s clinical finishing and leadership.
Messi Opens the Scoring With a Stunning Long-Range Strike
The match began with both sides creating quality chances. Nashville threatened early but failed to capitalize, and Messi made them pay in the 34th minute.
Receiving a precise pass from Jordi Alba, Messi cut inside and unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike from outside the box that swerved past Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis into the bottom left corner. The City Ground erupted as Miami took a 1-0 lead.
However, Nashville responded swiftly. Sam Surridge equalized in the 43rd minute with his 24th goal of the season, nodding in a perfect delivery from Hany Mukhtar.
Moments later, Nashville took a 2-1 lead in first-half stoppage time when Jacob Shaffelburg pounced on a rebound after Mukhtar’s shot struck the post, giving the visitors hope of an upset.
In the second half, Inter Miami ramped up the pressure. Their persistence paid off in the 63rd minute when the referee awarded a penalty after Luis Suárez’s deflected shot struck Mukhtar’s arm inside the box.
Messi stepped up and coolly slotted the ball past Willis, sending the crowd into raptures. It was his first successful penalty of the MLS season and brought the score back to 2-2.
Four minutes later, Baltasar Rodríguez gave Miami the lead with a clever finish to make it 3-2. But the night still belonged to Messi.
In the 81st minute, Messi completed his hat-trick with a trademark curling shot through traffic and into the far corner. It was a moment of pure genius — the kind of goal only Messi seems capable of producing so consistently.
Miami’s Telasco Segovia added a fifth goal in injury time, sealing a dominant 5-2 win over a shell-shocked Nashville defense.
Speaking after the match, Javier Mascherano praised his captain’s influence:
“In the first half, it was very tough for us, we lacked intensity,” he admitted. “But the second half was different. We played higher up the pitch, took more risks, and Messi took us to another level. He leads by example — it’s incredible.”
Mascherano’s tactical changes and Messi’s brilliance turned the tide, ensuring Miami enter the playoffs in strong form.
While Messi stole the headlines in the East, the Western Conference also delivered plenty of drama. Expansion club San Diego FC secured the top seed after a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers, tying Vancouver Whitecaps on 63 points but finishing ahead on tiebreakers.
Amahl Pellegrino and Anders Dreyer scored twice each, capping the best regular season ever by a debut MLS team. Vancouver’s 2-1 loss to Dallas sealed their second-place finish, while Dallas clinched the final playoff spot.
Real Salt Lake also booked their place in the playoffs after a 2-2 draw with St. Louis combined with Colorado’s 2-2 draw against LAFC.
With 29 goals in his debut MLS regular season, Messi has already left an indelible mark on the league. His Golden Boot win not only underscores his enduring brilliance but also cements Inter Miami as a serious playoff contender.
As the playoffs approach, all eyes will be on Messi. Can he deliver more magical moments and lead Miami to their first MLS Cup? Given his form and influence, few would bet against it.
Source- EWN
