Lionel Messi once again delivered a masterclass. After lifting the MLS Golden Boot trophy, he scored twice and assisted once to lead Inter Miami CF to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the opening game of their Round One playoff series at Chase Stadium.
With this win, Inter Miami took the lead in the best-of-three series. They now travel to Nashville on November 1, hoping to seal a spot in the knockout round. Tadeo Allende also found the net in the first half of what coach Javier Mascherano called a “team victory.”
“At this stage, everyone matters,” said Mascherano. “To reach the top, we’ll need all our players. That’s the reality. We prepare together for moments like this.”
Before kickoff, MLS commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the Golden Boot for finishing as the top scorer of the 2025 season. Messi earned the award by scoring 29 goals in 28 games, his first since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
“I’m here to present Leo with the Golden Boot,” said Garber. “No one could have imagined how much he’d do for this club, this city, and this league.”
The award came just a day after Inter Miami confirmed Messi’s three-year contract extension. The new deal keeps him at the club until 2028.
“He’s changed the direction of Major League Soccer,” Garber added. “And having him for three more years is another gift, the gift that keeps on giving. Watching him play and seeing how happy he is here has been a thrill.”
Messi, the favorite to win his second straight MLS MVP award, also shared the league lead in assists with 19.
Since arriving in July 2023, Messi has transformed Inter Miami. He helped the team win the inaugural Leagues Cup that year, followed by the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, while also breaking the record for most points in a single MLS season. Individually, he won the 2024 MVP and is a finalist again this year. If he wins, he’ll be the first player in MLS history to claim it in back-to-back seasons.
Messi’s new contract could see him play into his early 40s. His presence has already reshaped the league. MLS ticket sales hit record highs, Inter Miami’s value reportedly doubled to about $1.2 billion, and Messi has topped jersey sales since his debut.
“I think he’s the unicorn of unicorns,” Garber said. “His mindset is unlike anyone else’s. His drive to win makes him the greatest of all time. There are many competitive players, but he has that extra spark, that focus to win every game.”
Garber also praised Inter Miami for how they announced Messi’s contract extension. The club released a video showing him signing his deal at the site of their upcoming new stadium near Miami International Airport, set to open next year.
“It just shows how thoughtful and classy this club is,” Garber said.
