Lionel Messi celebrates a remarkable night with two goals and the MLS Golden Boot as Inter Miami FC defeated Nashville SC 3–1 in their playoff opener.
Lionel Messi delivered another masterclass on the night of Friday October 24, 2025, scoring twice and collecting the MLS Golden Boot as Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 3–1 in the opening round of the Major League Soccer playoffs.
Before kickoff at Chase Stadium, MLS Commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the Golden Boot award for finishing the regular season as the league’s top scorer, after the Argentine netted 29 goals in 28 appearances. The accolade capped a dazzling campaign for the Inter Miami captain, who has redefined the league’s global visibility since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
“I’m here tonight not just to attend the game but to present Leo with the Golden Boot,” Garber said, according to ESPN. “I don’t think we ever could have imagined how much Leo would deliver — for this club, for this city, and for this league.”
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Moments later, Messi showed why he remains football’s ultimate showman. Linking up seamlessly with longtime friend and teammate Luis Suárez, he opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes. After a slick one-two, Messi darted into the box and met Suárez’s return cross with a diving header that sent the Miami crowd into raptures.
Inter Miami doubled their advantage just past the hour mark through Tadeo Allende, whose strike put the hosts firmly in control. In stoppage time, Messi added his second of the night, capitalizing on a goalkeeping mistake to slot home from close range — sealing both the win and a memorable evening.
Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar managed to pull one goal back late in the match, reducing the deficit in the best-of-three series. However, Miami’s dominant display leaves them just one win away from advancing to the next playoff round.
Messi’s brace took his tally to 39 goals in 44 competitive appearances this season, including seven in his last three matches. The 2022 World Cup winner now turns his focus to next weekend’s trip to Geodis Park for the second leg of the series.
If Inter Miami secure another victory in Tennessee, they will move on to the next round. A defeat, however, would force a decisive third match back in Florida. Should the second leg end in a draw, the game would proceed directly to a penalty shootout — setting the stage for another dramatic chapter in Messi’s MLS journey.
