Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi sets incredible new MLS record after hat-trick heroics vs Nashville

Messi stole the show in a regular season-ending 5-2 victory for the Herons against Nashville, as he walked away with the match ball. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also added an assist to his impressive tally in that department. He finished the 2025 campaign with 48 goal contributions in total - one short of Carlos Vela’s record haul for LAFC in 2019.

Messi’s 29 goals saw him to the MLS Golden Boot, becoming the third man since 2005 to reach that mark after Vela (34 in 2019) and Josef Martinez (31 in 2018). Having sat out the odd game through injury, the evergreen 38-year-old finished with a 1.03 goals-per-game average - the second best return in history.

Of Messi’s 29 efforts, 28 came from open play - which is another record in MLS circles. Having passed up a number of penalties over the course of the season, as he allowed others to pad their own stats, his solitary strike from the spot came against Nashville at GEODIS Park.

Another piece of history that Messi has claimed in 2025 relates to multi-goal performances. He finished the regular season with 10 of those - with nobody having got close to double figures before. He shared top playmaker honours with Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC after posting 19 assists. Messi is the second player - after Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC in 2015 (22g/16a) - to lead MLS in both goals and assists across a single campaign.

With there seemingly no stopping the all-time great, he has become the first player in MLS to win six Player of the Matchday awards in consecutive seasons. He has 12 to his name in total, putting him level with Bradley Wright-Phillips for the third-most in MLS history. Jeff Cunningham (14) and USMNT legend Landon Donovan (19) sit ahead of Messi on that chart.

Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano, who once lined up alongside Messi for Barcelona and the Argentina national team, is in no doubt that his illustrious countryman continues to cement a standing as the GOAT.

Mascherano has said during the 2025 season: “After the World Cup, Messi has already settled any debate. Messi is the greatest player my eyes have seen. Messi looks very happy in Miami, not only enjoying his football, but in life and with his family, and that’s something that might have been difficult in another place.”

Mascherano said after witnessing Messi’s masterclass against Nashville, with the Argentine superstar on course to become the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards in MLS: “The reality is that Leo has been exceptional, as he usually is. I think if anyone had doubts about his regular season, he has cleared them all. He will surely be awarded the MVP.”

Messi and Inter Miami are now readying themselves for the start of the MLS Cup playoffs. They suffered heartache in that department 12 months ago, having landed the Supporters’ Shield with a record-setting tally of points. They are to be reunited with Nashville this time around, with the first fixture in their round one best-of-three series set to take place at Chase Stadium on Friday.

Messi is already the most decorated player of all-time, but he is determined to add more trophies and medals to his glittering CV. It has been suggested that, even if he were to miss out on MLS Cup honours this season, there will be more bids for that crown to come. That is because a new contract is reportedly close to being signed in South Florida. Messi’s current deal is running down, but he has no plans to follow Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba into retirement - meaning that fresh terms will take him towards, and potentially beyond a 40th birthday in 2027.