NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lionel Messi scored his second career MLS hat trick, propelling Inter Miami to a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night.
Messi continues to lead the MLS in scoring with 29 goals this season. His previous hat trick came on October 19, last year, in Inter Miami’s 6-2 win over the New England Revolution.
The star player opened the scoring in the 35th minute, netting his 27th goal of the season with a shot from outside the center of the box, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
Nashville SC responded quickly. Sam Surridge leveled the score with a header in the 43rd minute, making it 1-1. Despite outshooting Inter Miami 11-4 in the first half, Nashville’s efforts paid off again in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time. Jacob Shaffelburg scored off a rebound from Hany Mukhtar’s shot that hit the left post, putting Nashville ahead 2-1.
In the second half, Miami earned a penalty after a handball by Andy Nájar in the 62nd minute. Messi converted the penalty to tie the game 2-2.
Just four minutes later, Baltasar Rodríguez put Inter Miami ahead with a shot from the center of the box, making it 3-2.
Messi completed his hat trick in the 81st minute with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, extending Inter Miami’s lead to 4-2.
This hat trick bolsters Messi’s position as a leading candidate for the MLS Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player honors. He now holds a five-goal lead over the league’s second-leading scorer, Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga.
Inter Miami finished the regular season with a 19-7-8 record, securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They will face Nashville in the first round of the MLS Playoffs, with Nashville entering as the sixth seed holding a 16-12-6 record.
https://wtop.com/sports/2025/10/lionel-messis-2nd-career-mls-hat-trick-gives-inter-miami-edge-over-nashville/
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