NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Inter Miami CF traveled to Nashville for its final regular-season game of the 2025 Major League Soccer season on Saturday night.
Miami entered the match as the third seed in the Eastern Conference, while Nashville sat in sixth.
The match was a back-and-forth battle from the opening whistle. Inter Miami took the lead in the 34th minute when Argentine star Lionel Messi scored from outside the box.
Just 10 minutes later, Nashville equalized with a goal from striker Sam Surridge. The hosts continued to apply pressure, scoring a second goal only eight minutes after the first, making it 2-1 as the teams headed into halftime.
As the second half began, Inter Miami flipped the switch. It was a goal barrage by the Herons, starting with Messi’s second of the night from the penalty spot in the 63th minute, after a Nashville player committed a handball in the box.
Moments later, Argentine forward Baltasar Rodríguez scored Miami’s third, giving them a 3-2 lead in the 67th minute.
The scoring didn’t stop there. Messi completed his hat trick in the 81st minute, marking three goals in the final game of the season for the second consecutive year.
As the match entered its final minutes, Inter Miami scored one last goal, courtesy of Venezuelan Telasco Segovia, with Messi providing the assist.
The match ended 5-2 in Miami’s favor, securing the club’s position as the third seed entering the postseason.
Inter Miami will face off against Nashville again in the first-round series.
Messi finished the regular season with 48 goal contributions—29 goals and 19 assists—just one shy of tying the MLS all-time record of 49.
He heads into the playoffs as the MVP favorite. If Messi were to win, he would be the first player in MLS history to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
Inter Miami finished the regular season with 19 wins, 8 draws, and 7 losses, totaling 65 points. The team also led the league with 81 goals scored.
Saturday’s match also marked the final regular-season appearances for Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba in their respective careers.
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