After raising MLS Golden Boot trophy, Lionel Messi scored two goals and provided one assist to help Inter Miami CF secure a convincing 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the first game of the Round 1 playoff series at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Inter Miami achieved the first victory in the best-of-three series before heading to Nashville on Nov. 1, aiming to move on to the knockout round of the postseason. Tadeo Allende also found the net in the first half during a match that Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano described as a team effort.
Brace from Messi Leads Inter Miami to 3-1 Playoff, Claims 2025 MLS Golden Boot
“At this stage, all players are important. To reach the highest point, we need everyone because that’s the reality. We try to communicate and prepare for what comes our way,” Mascherano stated.
Before the game, MLS commissioner Don Garber gave Messi the award for the top scorer of the 2025 season and highlighted his significance to the league. Messi earned the Golden Boot by scoring 29 goals in 28 games, claiming the award for the first time since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
“I’m here tonight not just to watch the game but to present Leo with the Golden Boot,” Garber said. “I don’t think we could have ever imagined that Leo would deliver for this club, this city, and this league the way he has.”
Inter Miami Extends Messi’s Contract Until 2028
The award presentation came a day after Inter Miami announced that Messi had signed a three-year contract extension with the club, keeping him in South Florida until the 2028 season. “He has changed the course of Major League Soccer, and we were already performing well. I believe that having him for three more years is just another gift,” Garber remarked.
“Hopefully, it will be a gift that keeps on giving. It’s been a thrill to watch him play and to see how happy he is here in Miami and in the United States.”
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