Messi ready: Inter Miami vs Nashville, for Golden Boot and MVP in MLS

Messi ready for crucial match with Inter Miami

Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Lionel Messi will be available for the final match of the 2025 MLS regular season with Inter Miami against Nashville SC on Saturday. The captain will seek to secure the Golden Boot. Messi arrives at the match after participating with Argentina on Tuesday night against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium.

“Yesterday they trained with us, they did a good part. Today they will train with us completely,” said Mascherano.

Javier Mascherano

“Beyond playing on Tuesday, Messi played with us on Saturday and De Paul didn’t play many minutes against Venezuela, so this was not an international window of much wear and tear. They played here, so after the match they could rest, they didn’t travel. Normally, when you have four days between matches, you can arrive rested and in good condition. We will be talking today after training.”

Mascherano stated that “almost everyone is available” for Saturday’s match, except David Ruiz and Allen Obando, who are still out due to injuries. The last match against Nashville could see Messi secure the MLS 2025 Golden Boot and allow Inter Miami to secure home-field advantage for the playoffs. Messi leads the Golden Boot ranking with 26 goals, although the Los Angeles FC striker, Denis Bouanga, follows him with 24 goals. The Inter Miami captain has yet to win the league’s Golden Boot since joining MLS in the summer of 2023, despite being close to achieving the award in 2024. Beyond the goals, Messi is also the leader in assists for the 2025 MLS season with 18, which improves his chances of securing the league MVP. Mascherano insists that “there is no doubt” that Messi deserves the trophy, which would make him the first player to win the MLS MVP twice in a row after lifting the 2024 edition of the award.

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“There is no doubt [that Messi is the MVP of the league]. Even with the disadvantage of playing fewer games than others, it’s the influence he has had on this team,” said Mascherano. “Measuring Messi only by statistics, which can be done, he is the best, but it goes beyond the numbers. He reflects on the field the importance he has in this team and what he does so that everyone who sees him enjoys it.” Inter Miami has already qualified for the league playoffs, but will know their first-round opponent after the last day of the regular season on Saturday night.