Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass on Saturday night as he scored a sensational hat-trick to virtually seal the Major League Soccer Golden Boot and propel Inter Miami into the playoffs with a 5-2 win over Nashville SC.
The Argentine superstar began the final day of the regular season leading the scoring chart with 26 goals, two ahead of Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga. Although Bouanga was set to play later, Messi’s total of 29 goals in 28 matches put him in a commanding position to claim his first MLS Golden Boot. His performance also strengthened his case for a second Most Valuable Player award as Inter Miami secured third place in the Eastern Conference.
Inter Miami will face Nashville again in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs, starting on 24 October. Nashville had created several chances before Messi opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a superb strike from outside the penalty area, taking a pass from Jordi Alba, cutting inside and firing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Nashville equalised nine minutes later through Sam Surridge, who headed in a pinpoint cross from Hany Mukhtar at the near post. They then took a 2-1 lead in first-half stoppage time when Jacob Shaffelburg pounced on the rebound after Mukhtar’s shot struck the right post.
Messi levelled the match from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, calmly rolling the ball past Joe Willis after a Luis Suarez deflection struck Mukhtar’s arm in the area. Four minutes later, Baltasar Rodriguez gave Miami the lead before Messi completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute with a precise curling shot through traffic.
Telasco Segovia added a fifth for Miami in second-half injury time, leaving Nashville stunned.
In the Western Conference, four clubs, Dallas, the Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes, were battling for the final two playoff places. Thomas Muller’s Vancouver FC aimed to secure top spot in the West with a win or draw at home to Dallas, while a defeat could give San Diego FC the chance to overtake them with a victory at Portland.
