Mascherano backs Messi to win MLS MVP after record-breaking season

Javie Mascherano has backed Lionel Messi to say the MLS MVP award as soon as once more.

Inter Miami hammered Nashville SC 5-2 on Saturday, with Messi capping his regular-season with the Golden Boot after netting a hat-trick.

Miami have been required to mount a second-half comeback as objectives from Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg cancelled out Messi’s opener.

The Argentine icon then went on to attain one other two, extending his tally to 29 objectives, as he grew to become the primary ever participant to complete an MLS marketing campaign with no less than 18 objectives and 18 assists.

The 38-year-old registered seven pictures on Saturday, with 4 of these hitting the goal, whereas additionally creating 5 possibilities, together with one help, and he seems to be to be in line to turn out to be MLS MVP, which might make him the competitors’s first back-to-back winner of the award.

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— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 19, 2025

“Nicely, what can I say about Leo? The reality is, effectively, right this moment he was distinctive, as he normally is,” Mascherano stated.

“Clearly, I feel if anybody had any doubts about what his common season was like, the truth is that he’s cleared any doubts. They’ll absolutely give him the MVP award for every thing he’s proven.

“Speaking in regards to the three objectives he scored, effectively, joyful for him as a result of he helped us win the sport once more.”

Messi completed the common season with 48 objective involvements in MLS, one shy of the file set by Carlos Vela (49).

Miami are set to fulfill Nashville once more within the first spherical of the playoffs, with the 2 sides battling out over the course of three matches.