The Argentinian star Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, concluded the 2025 MLS regular season with an outstanding performance, securing the coveted Golden Boot award.
Messi scored three goals in the last game of the season, also adding an assist, which contributed to Inter Miami’s 5-2 victory over Nashville SC. With this performance, the forward accumulated a total of 29 goals in just 28 regular season games, solidifying 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 have managed to surpass Messi’s goal total in a regular MLS season: Carlos Vela (34), Josef Martínez (31), and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (30).
In addition to his goals, Messi led the league in assists, totaling 19, which left him one short of 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 talk about him,” stated Ian Fray, Inter Miami defender.
Ian Fray
Messi’s contributions 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 commented in the post-match press conference that the first game of the three-game series will take place on Friday, although MLS will announce the schedule on Sunday.
Mascherano has insisted that Messi has done more than enough on the field to deserve the MLS 2025 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which would make him the first player to win it in consecutive seasons.
“What can I say about Leo? The truth is that, well, today he was exceptional, as he usually is,” said Mascherano.
Messi won the MLS 2024 MVP trophy after recording 20 goals and 16 assists, inspiring Inter Miami to win the Supporters’ Shield and break the league record for most points recorded in a season.
Messi’s hat-trick on Saturday was his second in MLS. The first was in Inter Miami’s 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution on the last day of the 2024 regular season.
He scored his first goal against Nashville from the top of the area in the 35th minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
A Messi was awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute and converted it to tie the score 2-2.
Completed the 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 had an assist on Telasco Segovia’s goal in stoppage time.
