Lionel Messi bags hat-trick vs Nashville to clinch MLS top scorer award | OneFootball

Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick against Nashville SC in the final game of the 2025 regular season to finish as the top scorer in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Messi broke the deadlock with a terrific goal, demonstrating incredible chest control before zipping past players and arrowing his shot into the bottom corner.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had not scored a penalty all season, but rolled one in after 63 minutes to draw the game level after Nashville clawed their way into the lead with two goals.

The 38-year-old was clearly inspired and made sure of the result in the 81st minute when he took the ball, played a one-two with his teammate, and fired an effort into the back of the net.

This was the 60th hat-trick of his glittering career and likely puts him as the front-runner for another MLS MVP award after his 2024 win.

Miami’s win over Nashville sets them up to face the same opposition in the Eastern Conference play-offs.

Messi will be key to Miami’s chances of claiming a first title for the club. He is in fine form and will take some stopping.

Messi scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists in just 28 matches, a remarkable 48 goal contributions, only one short of Carlos Vela’s MLS record of 49 set in 2019.

He outscored LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (both on 24 goals) to claim the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the club’s first-ever winner of the award.

He’s also the first Argentine to take the honour since Valentin Castellanos in 2021.

A staggering 28 of Messi’s 29 goals came from open play, the most ever recorded in a single MLS season.

His 1.03 goals-per-game average is the second-highest among Golden Boot winners since 2005, trailing only Vela’s 1.10.

He also led the league in assists, building on his historic 2024 campaign that saw Inter Miami lift the Supporters’ Shield.

Messi is set to sign a new deal and continue his remarkable journey with the American club.