Inter Miami overpowers Nashville as Messi stars again

Lionel Messi delivered another spectacular performance in Major League Soccer, scoring his second career MLS hat trick as Inter Miami cruised to a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday. The win solidifies Miami’s momentum heading into the playoffs and highlights Messi’s dominance in the league this season.

Messi, who now leads MLS with 29 goals, opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a precise shot from outside the box, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. Nashville quickly responded when Sam Surridge headed in an equalizer in the 43rd minute. The visitors then took a surprising 2-1 lead in stoppage time of the first half, with Jacob Shaffelburg converting a rebound from Hany Mukhtar’s effort off the post.

Miami leveled the game in the 62nd minute when Messi calmly converted a penalty after a handball by Nashville’s Andy Nájar. Just four minutes later, Baltasar Rodríguez scored from the center of the box to put Miami ahead 3-2. Messi completed his hat trick in the 81st minute with a left-footed strike from the center, before Telasco Segovia added a fifth goal deep into stoppage time, sealing the win.

“Towards the end of the game, our quality took over, and we won the game,” said Inter Miami defender Ian Fray. “We have some of the greatest players to ever play the game here, and that mindset shows every match.”

Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan admitted Messi’s brilliance was decisive. “We didn’t do a good enough job defending Messi in the final 24-25 yards. If you give him chances near the box, he’s going to take them,” he said.

The victory keeps Inter Miami in strong contention for the MLS playoffs, finishing the regular season with a 19-7-8 record as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Nashville, sixth in the East with a 16-12-6 record, will face Miami again in the first round of the playoffs.

Messi’s hat trick also strengthens his case as a Golden Boot and MVP contender. He now leads the league by five goals over his closest rivals, Sam Surridge and Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga, underlining his impact on the MLS this season.