Lionel Messi's Brilliance Gives Inter Miami 3-1 Win

Messi scores twice as Inter Miami edges Nashville

Lionel Messi scored twice, including a stoppage-time goal, as Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 3-1 in the first game of their MLS Cup playoff series.

“We know that playoffs are tough, so we wanted to start with a win at home...”

Lionel Messi's two goals led Inter Miami to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC in the MLS Cup playoff opener. Messi's diving header in the 19th minute gave Miami an early lead, and he sealed the victory with another goal nine minutes into stoppage time.

Tadeo Allende also scored for Inter Miami, netting a header in the 62nd minute off a pass from Ian Fray. The win puts Inter Miami 1-0 up in the best-of-three series, with the next game scheduled for November 1 in Nashville.

GAME 1️⃣ ✅ pic.twitter.com/85uVtq40aI

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 25, 2025

Messi's performance was a testament to his skill, and he was presented with the Golden Boot award before the game for topping the regular-season scoring chart with 29 goals in 28 games. Inter Miami's coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting their growth and teamwork.

The victory comes a day after Messi signed a three-year contract extension with Inter Miami, keeping him with the club through 2028. MLS commissioner Don Garber praised Messi's impact on the league, saying, “He has reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer, and we were already doing pretty well. And I think having three more years is just going to be another gift.”

Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, was honored with the Golden Boot award prior to the game for topping the regular-season scoring chart with 29 goals in 28 games. He quickly proved his worth, scoring a diving header in the 19th minute off a pass from Luis Suarez to put Inter Miami up 1-0 against Nashville SC.

The Golden Boot award presentation was a fitting precursor to Messi's outstanding performance, which ultimately led Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC. This win gives Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with the next game scheduled for November 1 in Nashville.

The scoring play began with Sergio Busquets gaining possession near the sideline, where he passed to Rodrigo De Paul. De Paul quickly found a charging Lionel Messi, who then handed the ball off to Luis Suarez on the right wing. Suarez promptly fed it back to Messi, who connected with the pass and scored with a diving header in the 19th minute, giving Inter Miami an early 1-0 lead.

Later, Inter Miami doubled their lead when Tadeo Allende scored a header in the 62nd minute, courtesy of a pass from Ian Fray. This goal put Miami up 2-0 against Nashville SC, further solidifying their advantage in the match.

“We know that playoffs are tough, so we wanted to start with a win at home,” said De Paul. “Hopefully, this is just the beginning. The team did very well today in terms of intensity, focus, understanding the moments when to attack and when to defend.”

“We showed that we are growing as a team, and that's the most important thing.”

Lionel Messi sealed the victory for Inter Miami nine minutes into second-half stoppage time. Jordi Alba sent a ball from the left wing towards the goal, and Nashville keeper Joe Willis attempted to block it but couldn't control the rebound, allowing Messi to tap the ball into the net.

This goal capped off an impressive performance by Messi, who had earlier scored a diving header in the 19th minute to give Inter Miami the lead. Tadeo Allende also scored for Inter Miami, netting a header in the 62nd minute off a pass from Ian Fray. Hany Mukhtar scored a consolation goal for Nashville in the final minute of stoppage time.

The win puts Inter Miami 1-0 up in the best-of-three series, with the next game scheduled for November 1 in Nashville. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano emphasized the importance of staying focused, despite the team's strong lead.

Hany Mukhtar's late goal in the 11th minute of stoppage time was merely a consolation, as Inter Miami had already sealed their 3-1 win over Nashville SC.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Lionel Messi, who signed a three-year contract extension with Inter Miami just a day prior, keeping him with the club until 2028. MLS commissioner Don Garber, who presented Messi with the Golden Boot award, was thrilled with the news, highlighting Messi's profound impact on the league.

Golden Boot, golden performance — Leo Messi, our #IconOfTheMatch 👑⚽ @RoyalCaribbean pic.twitter.com/TMIPINFq4X

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 25, 2025

“I don't think we ever could have imagined that Leo would have been able to deliver for this club, for this city and for this league the way he had,” Garber said.

“He has reset the trajectory for Major League Soccer and we were already doing pretty well. And I think having three more years is just going to be another gift.”

“I'm happy for him, and I'm happy to have him on my team,” said Rodrigo De Paul, referring to Lionel Messi's impressive performance and impact on the team.

“We see him every weekend, it's an advantage,” he said. “We have to keep enjoying him. I'm very happy about the renewal because it means we'll be together for a few more years, so I'm very pleased.”

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano cautioned against complacency, despite his team's two wins over Nashville SC. “We can't relax,” Mascherano said, emphasizing the need to stay focused in their pursuit of their first MLS Cup title.

“Nashville has a style and way of playing that can cause a lot of damage ... We made many adjustments compared to the previous match, but it won't be enough,” Mascherano said. “We have to keep improving.”