Messi gets Golden Boot, scores brace in Miami win
Lionel Messi marked a landmark weekend by scoring twice and providing an assist as Inter Miami CF defeated Nashville SC 3–1 in the opening match of their MLS Round 1 playoff series at Chase Stadium on Saturday. The victory came just hours after Messi was presented with the 2025 MLS Golden Boot and confirmed a new three-year contract extension with the club through the 2028 season.
The Argentine forward, 38, extended his prolific form by netting a brace in a dominant home display that also featured a goal from midfielder Tadeo Allende. Inter Miami, under coach Javier Mascherano, now lead the best-of-three series and will travel to Nashville on November 1 seeking to seal a place in the postseason knockout round.
“At this stage, all players are important,” Mascherano said post-match. “To reach the highest level, we need everyone prepared for whatever comes. Tonight was a full team effort.”
Before kickoff, MLS commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the Golden Boot trophy, awarded to the league’s top scorer after the veteran forward tallied 29 goals and 19 assists across 28 matches. It is Messi’s first Golden Boot since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
“I’m here tonight not just to attend the game but to present Leo with the Golden Boot,” Garber said. “I don’t think we ever could have imagined the impact he would have on this club, this city, and this league.”
The new contract ensures Messi will remain with Inter Miami into his early 40s, further solidifying his influence on the league both on and off the pitch. Since his arrival in July 2023, Inter Miami have won the Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and set a new MLS record for points in a season. The club’s valuation has reportedly doubled to around $1.2 billion, while ticket revenue and jersey sales have reached record highs.
“He’s the unicorn of unicorns,” Garber added. “His intensity and desire to win set him apart. It’s been a thrill to watch him play and to see how happy he is here.”
Messi, already a two-time World Cup winner and the reigning MLS MVP, is again a frontrunner for the 2025 award. If successful, he would become the first player in league history to win the honor in consecutive seasons.
Inter Miami are expected to move into their new stadium near Miami International Airport next year, a project highlighted during the club’s announcement of Messi’s contract extension. The deal and the team’s continued rise underscore Miami’s ambition to remain a dominant force in Major League Soccer’s new era.