Inter Miami 5-2 Nashville: 38-year-old Messi scores a hat-trick
At age 38, Messi extended his contract until 2028, winning the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals. Inter Miami scored 81 goals, winning 6 of their last 8 games, finishing third in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Philadelphia.
Inter Miami beat Nashville SC 5-2, and Lionel Messi, at age 38, scored a hat-trick. That moment encapsulated his entire 2025 season: a new contract until 2028, the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals, and an Inter Miami team that scored 81 goals – double their 2023 season (41 goals) when Messi had only joined mid-season.
Key moments: hat-tricks and decisive plays.
The 5-2 victory against Nashville was a clear statement: Messi still decides the game. In the final eight games of the season, he scored three winning goals and provided two assists, while scoring 10 goals and assisting nine to help Inter Miami overcome the pressure of the final stretch.
The 2025 MLS Golden Boot award with 29 goals demonstrates exceptional finishing ability: Messi exceeded his expected goals (xG) by more than 6 goals, and none of those 29 goals came from within the 6-meter box – a testament to his positioning and finishing quality.
"The Camp Nou band" reunites and the immediate effect.
Since Messi arrived in Florida, Inter Miami has not just had one superstar. They have recreated the partnership that once made Barcelona so brilliant with Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez. This familiar understanding has given the team a significant edge in attacking quality.
Busquets – the orchestrator for Messi
Busquets remains the unsung hero: 8 through passes leading to goals – the highest in MLS and surpassing many players in the top five European leagues. The Busquets-Messi partnership directly contributed 6 goals, matching the performance of Forsberg-Choupo-Moting at New York Red Bulls. This is the link that ensures the tempo and provides optimal ball supply to Messi in the final 30 meters.
Alba – Suarez: familiar trajectories
Jordi Alba assisted Messi five times with crosses and return passes that followed the same trajectory. Suarez, also 38, could still read Messi's movements with just a glance – an understanding that shaped how Miami created space.
Tactical picture: The final 30 meters of the field and minimalist movement.
Messi in 2025 won't need to move constantly like he did at his peak, but he'll still dominate the creative space. He'll focus on the final 30 meters of the pitch: choosing his position, controlling the tempo, and forcing opponents into open spaces with passes only he can see.
According to data from SkillCorner, Messi runs the second least and sprints the least among MLS forwards. He only had 43 defensive actions in 28 games – fewer than his total goals and assists (45). With Messi, the team optimizes the structure so that the whole team runs around him, rather than requiring him to run a lot.
Positioning and protection
The arrival of Rodrigo De Paul in the summer transfer window – who had previously acted as a "shield" for Messi at the 2022 World Cup – helped Inter Miami reintroduce a familiar formula. Under coach Javier Mascherano, De Paul and Busquets freed Messi from the heavy lifting of other players, allowing him to focus on the decisive moments.
Messi's touchline in MLS is like a "signature": he doesn't need to drop deep, just wait for the right moment to turn and unleash a deadly pass or shot.
Key statistics
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Year old | 38 |
| Contract with Inter Miami | By 2028 |
| MLS 2024 | Player of the Year; 20 goals, 16 assists |
| MLS 2025 | 29 goals; MLS top scorer |
| Inter Miami 2025 Goalscorer | 81 goals (compared to 41 goals in 2023) |
| Final 8 matches of the season | 10 goals, 9 assists; 3 decisive goals, 2 decisive assists. |
| Final effectiveness | Exceeding xG by more than 6 goals; 0/29 goals within the 6m zone. |
| Developing opportunities | 44 through passes; more than 10 shots on goal per match. |
| Buspension | 8 through-pass goals (highest in MLS) |
| Busquets-Messi link | 6 goals, tied with Forsberg – Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls) |
| Alba provided the assist for Messi. | 5 times |
| Messi's defensive performance | 43 actions in 28 matches |
| Team performance at the end of the season | Win 6 out of 8 matches |
| Final position | Third in the Eastern Conference; one point behind Philadelphia Union. |
Impact on the MLS race
Inter Miami finished the season in third place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind leaders Philadelphia Union. The DRV PNK arena became a showcase for a brilliant attacking style, shaped by a structure centered around Messi and supported by the quiet work behind the scenes.
Conclude
Messi is no longer competing for individual titles, but the numbers speak for themselves: 29 goals, 16 assists (2024 season), 44 through passes, 81 team goals. At 38, he remains a difference-maker – a living legend continuing to write his next chapter with a style of football no one can replicate.
