Messi's Hat‑Trick Wins MLS Golden Boot as Inter Miami Beats Nashville

When Lionel Andrés Messi, captain of Inter Miami CF netted a hat‑trick on Oct. 18, 2025 at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, the Argentine forward clinched the MLS Golden Boot and propelled his team to a 5‑2 win over Nashville SC. The match, the final showdown of the 2025 MLS regular season, attracted a sell‑out crowd of 30,613 and set the stage for a first‑round playoff clash just a week later.

Game Recap and Key Moments

Inter Miami trailed 1‑0 after Sam Surridge headed home a cross in the 43rd minute. A second equaliser came when Jacob Shaffelburg pounced on a rebound at 46:06, nudging the ball past the keeper after Hany Mukhtar struck the left post.

• 35' – Messi opens the scoring, wiring a low drive from the edge of the box.
• 62' – After a handball by Andy Nájar, Messi coolly slots the resulting penalty to make it 2‑2.
• 66' – Baltasar Rodríguez fires a shot from the centre of the box, giving Miami a 3‑2 lead.
• 81' – Messi caps his hat‑trick with a curling finish that lands in the top corner.
• 90+1' – Telasco Segovia adds a fifth, sealing the 5‑2 final.

Messi’s three goals pushed his season tally to 29 in 28 matches, while his 20 assists tied Carlos Vela’s MLS record of 48 total goal contributions in a single campaign.

Season‑Long Impact of Messi’s Arrival

Since joining Inter Miami CF in July 2023, Messi has been a catalyst for both on‑field success and off‑field growth. Don Garber, MLS commissioner, noted in a press conference on Oct. 19, 2025, that average attendance across the league jumped 27 % and television viewership rose 43 % after the Argentine arrived.

Inter Miami’s regular‑season record improved from 10‑16‑8 in 2022 to a league‑best 19‑7‑8 this year, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The club’s average home attendance climbed to 20,541, a 15 % increase over the previous season, underscoring the commercial boost the star brings.

Coaches’ Reactions and Tactical Takeaways

Post‑match, B.J. Callaghan, head coach of Nashville SC, admitted, “Messi is on another level; we did everything right for 45 minutes but one player can change everything.” Meanwhile, Gerardo Martino, Inter Miami’s manager, praised his star’s professionalism, saying, “Leo continues to amaze us; his work ethic sets the standard for everyone in this league.”

From a tactical standpoint, Miami’s switch to a high‑press in the second half forced Nashville into errors, leading to the decisive penalty and subsequent goals. Rodríguez’s late‑half surge highlighted the depth of Miami’s midfield, while Segovia’s stamina exemplified the club’s investment in South‑American talent.

Playoff Implications and What’s Next

With the regular season wrapped, the playoffs begin on Oct. 26, 2025, when Inter Miami CF host Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami enters as the third seed, meaning a home‑field advantage in the first round. If Messi stays healthy, the odds of a deep run improve dramatically; his 29‑goal haul already puts him ahead of the league’s second‑place scorer, Denis Bouanga of LAFC, by five goals.

Should Miami advance, a potential semi‑final clash with top‑seeded New York City FC looms, setting up a marquee showdown between two of the league’s most marketable franchises.

Historical Context: Records and Comparisons

Messi’s 29 goals rank third all‑time for a single MLS season, trailing only Carlos Vela (34 in 2019), Josef Martínez (31 in 2018) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (30 in 2018). His hat‑trick marks the second of his MLS career; the first came exactly a year earlier on Oct. 19, 2024, when Miami thumped the New England Revolution 6‑2.

The achievement also mirrors historic feats by European greats who moved to MLS late in their careers. Messi joins the ranks of Thierry Henry and David Beckham as a late‑stage ambassador who shifted the league’s global perception.