Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick against Nashville SC in the final game of the 2025 regular season to finish as the top scorer in the Major League Soccer (MLS).Messi broke the dead...
Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick against Nashville SC in the final game of the 2025 regular season to finish as the top scorer in the Major League Soccer (MLS).
Messi broke the deadlock with a terrific goal, rolling back the years with an incredible chest control before zipping past players and arrowing his shot into the bottom corner.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had not scored a penalty all season, but rolled one in on 63 to draw the game level after Nashville clawed their way into the lead with two goals.
The 38-year-old was clearly inspired and on 81, made sure of the result when he took the ball, played a one-two with his teammate before piercing an effort into the back of the net.
This was the 60th hat-trick of his glittering career and likely puts him as the front-runner for another MLS MVP award after his 2024 win.
All 29 goals from Lionel Messi's MLS Golden Boot-winning season ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/y7hUB31KCu
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 19, 2025
Interestingly, Inter Miami’s win over Nashville sets them up to face the same opposition in the Eastern Conference play-offs as the World Cup winner eyes the MLS Cup.
Messi will be key to Inter Miami’s chances of claiming a first title for the club. He is in fine form and will take some stopping when he is in the groove like this.
Messi scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists in just 28 matches, a remarkable 48 goal contributions, only one short of Carlos Vela’s MLS record of 49 set in 2019.
The Inter Miami captain outscored LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (both on 24 goals) to claim the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the club’s first-ever winner of the award.
He’s also the first Argentine to take the honour since Valentín Castellanos in 2021.
A staggering 28 of Messi’s 29 goals came from open play, the most ever recorded in a single MLS season.
His 1.03 goals-per-game average is the second-highest among Golden Boot winners since 2005, trailing only Vela’s 1.10.
He also led the league in assists, building on his historic 2024 campaign that saw Inter Miami lift the Supporters’ Shield.
Messi is set to sign a new deal and continue his remarkable journey with the American club.
Category: General Sports
