Overview

• Inter Miami beat Nashville 5-2, with Lionel Messi scoring three and assisting the fifth goal.
• He finished with 29 goals in 28 matches to lead MLS scorers, ahead of Denis Bouanga and Sam Surridge on 24, and became Inter Miami’s first Golden Boot winner.
• Miami closed the regular season third in the Eastern Conference, earning home advantage in the opening round.
• Some outlets list Messi with 19 assists and 48 goal contributions—one shy of Carlos Vela’s single-season record—though published totals vary across reports.
• ESPN, citing Fabrizio Romano, reports Messi is close to finalizing a new multiyear Inter Miami contract.