Messi scores a brace as Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1.
After winning the 2025 MLS Golden Boot and scoring a brace in the 19th and 90+5th minutes, Messi, along with a goal from Allende, helped Inter Miami defeat Nashville 3-1, opening the door to the second round of the play-offs.
Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 3-1 in a pivotal match for qualification in the MLS Cup play-offs, with Lionel Messi shining with a brace in the 19th and 90+5th minutes. Tadeo Allende contributed a goal in the 62nd minute, before Hany Mukhtar pulled one back in the final minute.
Key moment: Messi opens the scoring in the 19th minute, then seals the victory in the 90+5 minute.
The match started at a high tempo. In the 4th minute, Messi tried his luck with a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it was blocked by a Nashville defender. The visitors responded in the 11th minute when Jacob Shaffelburg unleashed a dangerous shot, forcing goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo to make a superb save for Inter Miami.
The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute: Luis Suarez delivered a sublime pass, Messi positioned himself intelligently, and headed the ball into the net to open the scoring. From that moment on, the home team increased the pressure with chances from Allende, Ian Fray, and Messi himself, but goalkeeper Joe Willis denied them several goals.
At the start of the second half, Nashville tried to push forward, but Inter Miami quickly regained the initiative. In the 62nd minute, Ian Fray delivered a precise cross for Allende to head in the second goal. For the remainder of the match, Willis continued to make saves against chances from Suarez and Allende.
In the fifth minute of added time, Messi capitalized on a mistake by the Nashville goalkeeper to score and extend Inter Miami's lead to 3-0. In the final minute, Hany Mukhtar scored a consolation goal for the visitors, sealing a 3-1 victory for Inter Miami.
The game unfolds according to the tactical scenario.
The opening goal reflected Inter Miami's familiar attacking mechanism: Suarez dropped back to receive the ball and passed it, creating space, and Messi made an intelligent run between the two central defenders to finish with a header. It was a combination that demonstrated the link-up between the two stars in stretching the opponent's defensive structure.
In the second half, Inter Miami exploited the wing with Ian Fray's advanced role. The right-back's cross created an opportunity for Allende to penetrate the penalty area and head the ball in. Their proactive play on the flanks, combined with quick transitions, allowed the home team to constantly threaten Joe Willis's goal in the second half.
The third goal came from relentless pressure that forced Nashville to make a crucial mistake. When the visiting goalkeeper mishandled the ball, Messi immediately punished him to seal the victory.
Key analysis
Messi and Suarez: a decisive combination.
Suarez's assist for the opening goal and Messi's sprint into space were the highlights. Suarez drew defenders away, while Messi capitalized on their runs. Messi's brace – one from a header, one from capitalizing on a mistake – demonstrated the versatility in his finishing.
Allende's right wing and running style
Ian Fray made an impact on the right flank with a cross that led to Allende's goal. This attacking pattern emphasizes the support provided by the full-backs and the proactive runs into the penalty area by the attacking midfielders to create a numerical advantage.
Two ends of the wooden frame
Rocco Rios Novo held the game for Inter Miami with an 11th-minute save against Shaffelburg. Conversely, Joe Willis was the reason Nashville didn't concede earlier in the first half and for much of the second, before a mistake in injury time sealed the game.
Key statistics
- Score: Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC.
- Goals: Messi 19', Allende 62', Messi 90+5' – Mukhtar in the final minute.
- Notable opportunities: Messi's long-range shot in the 4th minute; Shaffelburg's shot in the 11th minute was saved by Rocco Rios Novo; Joe Willis made several saves against shots from Allende, Ian Fray, and Messi.
- Messi received the MLS Golden Boot award for 2025 before the match and scored a brace on the same day.
Reactions and effects
This victory gives Inter Miami a significant advantage in the race for a spot in the second round of the MLS Cup playoffs. In context, Messi recently signed a new contract with Inter Miami until December 2028. Prior to this match, Inter Miami had beaten Nashville 5-2 in Round 34 of the MLS, with Messi scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist, demonstrating their recent head-to-head advantage.
With Messi's form and effectiveness on the flanks, Inter Miami entered the next stage of the play-offs with a clear strategy: central attacking combinations based on the Messi-Suarez duo and increased attacking threat from crosses by the full-backs.
