Lionel Messi continues to rewrite the Major League Soccer (MLS) record books with a performance for the ages, leading Inter Miami to a commanding 3–0 rout of Atlanta United on Saturday night at Chase Stadium. The Argentine maestro delivered two goals and an assist, seizing the 2025 MLS Golden Boot lead and cementing his case as the league’s most dominant force.
Fresh off a brief absence from Argentina’s friendly against Venezuela, Messi returned to Inter Miami’s lineup with a vengeance, his sights set on individual and team glory. With his Argentina teammates, including Rodrigo De Paul, cheering from the stands, the 38-year-old icon put on a clinic, showcasing why he remains the gold standard in world football.
A Night of Magic from Messi
Messi broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, capitalizing on a chance after several near-misses to outfox Atlanta’s Canadian goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert. His second strike in the 87th minute sealed the deal, bringing his 2025 season tally to 26 goals and vaulting him past LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (24 goals) in the Golden Boot race. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also laid on a pinpoint assist for Jordi Alba’s 52nd-minute goal, giving Inter Miami a 2–0 cushion.
The night wasn’t just about Messi’s heroics. Luis Suárez, another Barcelona legend, joined the party with a clinical finish in the 61st minute to cap the 3–0 scoreline, sending the Chase Stadium crowd into a frenzy. The victory was a fitting tribute to Alba, who announced his retirement earlier in the week despite a contract extension through 2027, and to Sergio Busquets, who was honored after Inter Miami’s previous 4–1 win over the New England Revolution.
Messi’s emotional Instagram tribute to Alba captured the mood: “Thanks to you, Jordi. I’m going to miss you so much. After so much together, it’s going to feel strange to look to my left and not see you there. Crazy how much assists you gave me all these years… Who’s gonna give me back passes now???”
Chasing History in MLS
Messi’s virtuoso display pushed his 2025 goal contributions (goals and assists) to an astonishing 44, the second-highest single-season total in MLS history, trailing only Carlos Vela’s 49 in 2019. With one match remaining in the regular season, Messi is not only hunting the Golden Boot but also aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back MLS MVP awards, having narrowly missed the Golden Boot in 2024.
The Golden Boot race is set for a thrilling finale on Decision Day, with Inter Miami facing Nashville SC. Messi’s 26 goals lead Bouanga (24) and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (23), while FC Dallas’ Petar Musa and Sporting Kansas City’s Dejan Joveljić lag further behind with 18 apiece. This year’s Golden Boot winner is poised to post the highest goal tally since Vela’s 35 in 2019, with only Josef Martínez’s 31 goals in 2018 standing as another benchmark for 30-plus goal seasons in MLS history.
A Farewell to Legends
Beyond the individual accolades, Saturday’s match carried deep emotional weight for Inter Miami. The game was a celebration of Alba and Busquets, Messi’s longtime Barcelona comrades, who are set to hang up their boots at season’s end. The trio’s chemistry, honed over years at the Camp Nou, was on full display, with Messi and Suárez delivering moments of pure Barcelona magic.
Inter Miami now turns its attention to the regular-season finale against Nashville SC, followed by a return to Chase Stadium for the first round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, a best-of-three series. Messi’s availability for Argentina’s relocated match against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium on Monday remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the living legend is far from done.
MLS Golden Boot Standings
|
Player (Club) |
Goals |
|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) |
26 |
|
Denis Bouanga (LAFC) |
24 |
|
Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) |
23 |
|
Petar Musa (FC Dallas) |
18 |
|
Dejan Joveljić (Sporting Kansas City) |
18 |
With one game left, Messi is poised to etch his name deeper into MLS lore, chasing both the Golden Boot and a historic MVP repeat. Nashville, brace yourselves—the GOAT is coming.