In a scintillating spectacle that perfectly capped off the 2025 MLS regular season, Inter Miami CF delivered a stunning second-half surge, defeating Nashville SC 5-2 at GEODIS Park. The victory, a clear statement of intent heading into the playoffs, was orchestrated by none other than captain Lionel Messi, who produced a vintage performance featuring his second career MLS hat-trick and a crucial assist. The result saw Inter Miami secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference, while Nashville claimed the sixth, setting the stage for an immediate, high-stakes rematch in the upcoming best-of-three playoff series.
The final scoreline belies a tricky opening half where Nashville, playing in front of their home crowd, looked sharp and determined. Inter Miami, under coach Javier Mascherano, struggled to find their rhythm early on, conceding possession and allowing the hosts to create several dangerous opportunities. The deadlock was eventually broken by the sheer brilliance of Messi in the 35th minute. Receiving a pass from veteran teammate Jordi Alba near the halfway line, the Argentine wizard danced past a couple of defenders before unleashing a sublime, left-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom-left corner of the net, giving Miami a precarious 1-0 lead.
However, the home side demonstrated resilience, rapidly turning the tide before the halftime whistle. Nashville’s response came swiftly in the 43rd minute when Sam Surridge, a perennial threat, connected with a pinpoint delivery from Hany Mukhtar, heading the ball past Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo to level the score. Moments later, deep into first-half stoppage time, Nashville capitalised on a lapse in the Miami defense. Mukhtar’s shot ricocheted off the post, and the alert Jacob Shaffelburg pounced on the rebound, firing it home to send Nashville into the break with a surprising 2-1 lead. The first half proved to be a classic “tale of two halves” narrative, with Nashville outshooting Miami significantly, forcing Mascherano to make tactical adjustments during the interval.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to the visitors, transforming the game into the “Messi League Soccer” showcase many have come to expect. Mascherano’s adjustments worked wonders, injecting pace and intensity into the Miami attack. The comeback trail began in the 63rd minute when the referee awarded Inter Miami a penalty following a handball in the box by Nashville’s Andy Nájar. Unsurprisingly, Messi stepped up, calmly slotting the penalty kick past goalkeeper Joe Willis to equalize the score at 2-2.
The momentum swing was palpable, and just four minutes later, Inter Miami seized the lead. A shot from Luis Suárez was parried away by Willis, but the rebound fell perfectly to midfielder Baltasar Rodríguez, who made no mistake, rocketing the ball into the net for the go-ahead goal in the 67th minute. With Inter Miami now firmly in control, Messi put the contest beyond doubt in the 81st minute, completing his spectacular hat-trick. After a slick give-and-go sequence, he curled a signature left-footed shot through traffic from the centre of the box, extending the lead to 4-2.
In the final moments of the game, in the first minute of stoppage time, Messi solidified his dominance by turning provider. Closing in on the Nashville goalkeeper, he unselfishly squared the ball to Telasco Segovia, who tapped it in for the fifth and final goal of the night, cementing the 5-2 victory. The win saw Inter Miami reach 81 goals for the season, becoming only the third team in MLS history to score at least 80 goals in a single regular season.
This masterclass performance by the Argentine superstar was highly significant, not just for the win, but for individual accolades. The hat-trick sealed the MLS Golden Boot for Lionel Messi, as he finished the regular season with an astonishing 29 goals, five ahead of his nearest competitor. Furthermore, with an additional assist on the night, he concluded the season with 48 goal contributions (29 goals, 19 assists), just one shy of Carlos Vela’s all-time MLS record of 49 set in 2019. Inter Miami’s impressive 19-7-8 record secured their third-place finish in the Eastern Conference, while Nashville’s 16-12-6 record placed them sixth. The teams will now immediately prepare to meet again in the first round of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, starting on October 24, where Nashville will seek immediate revenge for this final-day defeat.
