Lionel Messi presented with Golden Boot in pregame ceremony | OneFootball

By Jaime Uribarri

WATCH: Commissioner Don Garber presents Lionel Messi with Golden Boot

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A legendary Golden Boot presented by Audi win calls for a legendary celebration.

Lionel Messi

Forward · Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami CF superstar captain Lionel Messi was honored prior to Friday’s Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Round One opener against Nashville SC for his remarkable regular-season output of 29g/19a that established him as the league's top goal scorer of 2025.

Those eye-popping numbers also put him one goal contribution shy of Carlos Vela's MLS-record 49 for LAFC in 2019.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber presented the legendary Argentine No. 10 with the Golden Boot as a chorus of "Messi, Messi, Messi" echoed throughout Chase Stadium.

Messi wasted no time continuing his red-hot form in Game 1, getting Inter Miami's series with Nashville off to a roaring start with a 19th-minute opening goal.

Should the Herons reach MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 6, they'd have home-field advantage after finishing the regular season higher than any Western Conference team in the overall league standings.