Messi wins MLS Golden Boot again as Nashville sets new record

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi won the MLS Golden Boot again on Saturday. This came after his team drew 3-3 with Charlotte on the last day of the regular season. Miami had a chance to win but wasted opportunities. They finished second in the Eastern Conference.

Messi did not score in the match, but he assisted in the first two goals at Miami’s Nu Stadium. Both assists came from corners. This helped Miami secure a home advantage for the first two playoff rounds.

Messi scored 26 goals this season. This made him the first player to win the MLS Golden Boot in back-to-back seasons. Petar Musa from Dallas was second with 22 goals. He did not score in Dallas’ 3-1 win over Colorado.

In the match, Ian Fray, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul scored three goals in the first half for Inter Miami. Liel Abada scored twice for Charlotte after halftime, and Rodolfo Aloko scored late to equalize.

Nashville, the league leaders, set a new MLS points record for a season with 77 points after beating Cincinnati 2-0. Nashville finished with a record of 23 wins, 3 losses, and 8 draws. They broke the previous record of 74 points set by Miami in 2024.

Miami ended the season in second place with 60 points. New England, who was third, could not take advantage of Miami's draw. They lost 1-0 to Orlando and finished with 58 points.

In the playoffs, Messi’s team will face Columbus. Other matchups in the East include New England against Philadelphia, Charlotte against Chicago, and Nashville against either Orlando or Cincinnati, who are the wild-card winners.

Columbus moved up to seventh place by beating Chicago 4-3. This win helped them avoid the wild card round.

During the game in Miami, Messi’s corner in the 14th minute reached Charlotte’s Luca de la Torre. De la Torre passed it to Fray, who scored the first goal. In the 33rd minute, Messi took another corner, which found Suarez at the near post. Suarez headed it in for 2-0.

De Paul added a third goal before halftime. But Abada pulled one back for Charlotte early in the second half and scored again in the 55th minute.

In the 90th minute, Aloko equalized after Smalls’s shot hit the post. A frustrated Messi hit the post during stoppage time. Aloko nearly scored the winner with a powerful shot that hit the side netting.