inter miami captain Lionel Messi Ended with a hat-trick on the final day of of MLS‘ regular season Saturday to receive the 2025 MLS Golden Boot award.
Messi’s three goals with one assist help Miami win 5-2 But Nashville SC, argentina The forward scored 29 goals in just 28 regular-season matches and finished as MLS’s top scorer for the first time.
, Messi tracker: all goals, assists, key moments
His nearest rivals were LAFC‘S dennis bounga And Nashville SC‘S Sam SurridgeBoth of them jointly stood second with 24 goals.
Only three players– carlos vela (34), joseph martinez (31) and zlatan ibrahimovic (30) — Messi has scored more than 29 goals in the MLS regular season.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also had a league-high 19 assists, which along with his 29 goals, left Messi one shy of Vela’s MLS record of 49 goal contributions in a regular season.
“It is so clear that [Messi] Gives us an advantage every night,” Inter Miami defender ian frey Said. “There aren’t enough words to say about him.”
Messi’s contributions helped Inter Miami finish third in the Eastern Conference, securing home-field advantage for the playoffs. The team will face Nashville again in the first round of the 2025 MLS playoffs.
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano shared in his postgame news 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 performed more than enough on the field to earn the 2025 MLS MVP award, which would make him the first player to win it in consecutive seasons.
“Well, what can I say about Leo? The truth is, today he was extraordinary, as he usually is,” Mascherano said.
“Obviously, I think if anyone had any doubts about his regular season, the reality is he has dispelled all doubts. They will definitely give him the MVP award for everything he has shown.
“Talking about the three goals he scored, it’s a pleasure for him because he helped us win the game again.”
Messi won the 2024 MLS MVP trophy after recording 20 goals and 16 assists to lead Inter Miami to the Supporters’ Shield and break the league record for most points recorded in a season.
Messi’s hat-trick on Saturday was the second most in MLS. Their first win was 6–2 at Inter Miami New England Revolution On the final day of the 2024 regular season.
He scored his first goal of the game against Nashville in the 35th minute from the top of the box to give Inter Miami a 1–0 lead.
In the 63rd minute, Messi got a penalty kick and the score became equal at 2-2.
He completed a hat-trick in the 81st minute with a left-footed shot from the center of the box and increased Inter Miami’s lead to 4-2.
Messi also had an assist telasco segoviaScore in stoppage time.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
