Lionel Messi shines with two goals as Inter Miami dominate Nashville in MLS playoff opener

Lionel Messi as soon as once more proved why he stays the heartbeat of Inter Miami and the face of Main League Soccer. On Friday night time, Messi led his group to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC in Sport 1 of their Jap Convention first-round playoff sequence, scoring twice – together with a surprising opening header – and helping on one other. The win provides Inter Miami two possibilities to advance to the second spherical for the primary time within the membership’s historical past, with Sport 2 set for November 1 in Nashville and, if vital, Sport 3 again in Fort Lauderdale on November 8.

Earlier than kickoff, Messi was honored with the MLS Golden Boot, awarded to the league’s high scorer, after an impressive common season that noticed him rating 29 objectives and document 19 assists. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who offered the award, praised Messi’s transformative impression on the league. “I do not suppose we ever might have imagined that Leo would have been capable of ship for this membership, for this metropolis, and for this league the way in which he has,” Garber stated. “He is reset the trajectory for Main League Soccer. Having him right here for 3 extra years is actually a present.”

Only a day earlier than his playoff heroics, Inter Miami had introduced Messi’s new three-year contract extension, guaranteeing his presence in MLS into his early 40s. Since his arrival in 2023, the Argentine famous person has doubled the membership’s valuation to about $1.2 billion and pushed document ticket gross sales throughout the league. Garber known as him “the unicorn of unicorns,” highlighting Messi’s unmatched mindset and relentless want to win.

On the sphere, Messi wasted little time making his mark. Within the nineteenth minute, he slipped previous the protection and scored with a diving header to offer Inter Miami the early lead. His affect continued within the second half, establishing Ian Fray on the proper wing with a exact go. Fray floated a cross to Tadeo Allende, who completed with one other header within the 62nd minute to make it 2-0. Then, deep into stoppage time, a deflection landed completely at Messi’s toes in entrance of aim, and he calmly tapped it in to seal a commanding 3-0 benefit.

Messi’s brilliance propels Inter Miami to Sport 1 win in MLS playoffs

Though Nashville managed a comfort aim from Hany Mukhtar on a free kick within the one hundred and first minute, the end result was by no means unsure. For Inter Miami, the efficiency marked one other assertion in a season stuffed with milestones.

Messi, already final 12 months’s league MVP, is closely favored to win the award once more – which might make him solely the second participant in MLS historical past to assert back-to-back honors, following Preki’s wins in 1997 and 2003. His 48 aim contributions this season had been only one shy of the all-time document set by Carlos Vela in 2019.

As Garber mirrored after the match, “Generally you need to take a step again and admire that Lionel Messi – the best participant within the historical past of the sport – is taking part in in Main League Soccer. We’re residing by way of one thing actually historic.”