Messi conquers the MLS Golden Boot with a hat-trick and leads Inter Miami

Messi Crowned with the MLS Golden Boot 2025

Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, concluded the 2025 MLS regular season with a stellar performance that secured him the Golden Boot. The Argentine star scored a hat-trick in the last match, solidifying his position as the league’s top scorer. Messi’s three goals, plus an assist, contributed to Inter Miami’s 5-2 victory over Nashville SC. With 29 goals in just 28 regular season matches, the Argentinian striker became the MLS top scorer for the first time. His closest pursuers in the goalscoring table were LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, both tied for second place with 24 goals. Only three players in MLS history have surpassed Messi’s goal mark 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, finishing just one point shy of Vela’s record of 49 goal contributions in a regular season.

It’s evident that Messi gives us an advantage every night. There aren’t enough words to describe what he does for us.

Ian Fray, Inter Miami defender.

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 again in the first round of the 2025 MLS playoffs. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano confirmed in his post-match press conference that the first match of the three-match series will take place on Friday, although the official schedule will be announced on Sunday by MLS. Mascherano has insisted that Messi has more than proven his worth to be awarded the MLS 2025 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which would make him the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons.

What can I say about Leo? The truth is that today he was exceptional, as he usually is. I think that, if anyone had doubts about his regular season, the reality is that he has cleared them up. They will surely give him the MVP award for everything he has shown. I am happy for him because he helped us win the match.

Javier Mascherano, coach of Inter Miami.

Messi had already won the MLS MVP award in 2024, after recording 20 goals and 16 assists, leading Inter Miami to obtain the Supporters’ Shield and break the league’s points record. The hat-trick on Saturday was Messi’s second in MLS. He achieved the first in Inter Miami’s 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution on the last day 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, tying the score 2-2. Completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, scoring from the center of the area with a left-footed shot and extending Inter Miami’s lead to 4-2. Messi also assisted on Telasco Segovia’s goal in stoppage time.