Lionel Messi once again delivered a masterclass, scoring twice and providing an assist to guide Inter Miami CF to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC in the opening game of their Round One playoff series at Chase Stadium.
With the win, Inter Miami takes the lead in the best-of-three series ahead of the return leg in Nashville on November 1. Tadeo Allende also scored in the first half of what coach Javier Mascherano called a “team victory.”
“At this stage, everyone matters,” Mascherano said. “To reach the top, we’ll need all our players. That’s the reality. We prepare together for moments like this.”
Before kickoff, MLS commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the Golden Boot for finishing as the league’s top scorer in 2025, with 29 goals in 28 games—his first since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
“I’m here to present Leo with the Golden Boot,” Garber said. “No one could have imagined how much he’d do for this club, this city, and this league.”
The award followed confirmation of Messi’s three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2028. “He’s changed the direction of Major League Soccer,” Garber said. “Having him for three more years is another gift, the gift that keeps on giving.”
Since arriving in July 2023, Messi has transformed Inter Miami, helping them win the inaugural Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and setting the MLS record for most points in a single season. Individually, he won the 2024 MVP and is again a finalist in 2025, aiming to become the first player in MLS history to win back-to-back MVP awards.
Messi also shared the league lead in assists with 19, further cementing his impact. His presence has already driven record ticket sales, doubled Inter Miami’s estimated value to $1.2 billion, and made him the club’s top-selling jersey.
“I think he’s the unicorn of unicorns,” Garber said. “His mindset is unlike anyone else’s. His drive to win makes him the greatest of all time.”
MLS commissioner Garber also praised Inter Miami for the classy announcement of Messi’s contract extension, which featured a video of Messi signing at the site of their upcoming new stadium near Miami International Airport, set to open next year.