Messi wins MLS Golden Boot with hat-trick and leads Inter Miami

Messi Crowned with the MLS Golden Boot 2025

The Argentinian star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, concluded the 2025 MLS regular season with a hat-trick, securing the coveted Golden Boot award. Messi’s three goals, added to an assist, were fundamental to Inter Miami’s 5-2 victory over Nashville SC. The Argentine forward demonstrated his lethality by scoring 29 goals in just 28 regular season matches, establishing himself as the MLS top scorer for the first time. His closest pursuers in the goalscoring table were Denis Bouanga of LAFC and Sam Surridge of Nashville SC, both tied for second place with 24 goals. Only three players in MLS history have surpassed Messi’s mark of 29 goals in a regular season: Carlos Vela (34), Josef Martínez (31), and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (30). In addition to his goals, Messi led the league in assists with 19, being only one contribution away from equaling Vela’s record of 49 goal contributions in a regular season.

“It’s obvious that Messi gives us an advantage every night. There aren’t enough words to describe him,” commented Ian Fray, Inter Miami defender.

Ian Fray

Messi’s outstanding performance propelled Inter Miami to third place in the Eastern Conference, securing home-field advantage in the playoffs. The team will face Nashville SC again in the first round of the 2025 MLS playoffs. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano revealed in the post-match press conference that the first match of the three-game series will take place on Friday, although the official schedule will be announced on Sunday. Mascherano has insisted that Messi has done enough on the field to be awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the MLS 2025, which would make him the first player to win this award in consecutive seasons.

“What can I say about Leo? The truth is that today he was exceptional, as he usually is,” expressed Mascherano.

Javier Mascherano

Messi’s hat-trick was the second in his MLS career, the first occurring in Inter Miami’s 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution in the final matchday of the 2024 regular season. His first goal against Nashville came from outside the area in the 35th minute, putting Inter Miami ahead 1-0. In the 63rd minute, Messi converted a penalty to tie the score 2-2. He completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, with a left-footed shot from the center of the area, extending Inter Miami’s lead to 4-2. Additionally, Messi assisted Telasco Segovia’s goal in stoppage time.