INTER MIAMI 2–1 NASHVILLE: MESSI SCORES BRACE IN FIVE CONSECUTIVE MLS MATCHES
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Inter Miami CF (11W-3L-5D, 38 points) secured a 2-1 home victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night, marking their fifth consecutive win and extending their unbeaten streak to six matches in the 2025 MLS regular season (5W, 1D).
Captain Lionel Messi, who was named Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match, scored a brace for the fifth consecutive regular season game to lead Inter Miami to victory at Chase Stadium.
In doing so, he made history by reaching 11 goals in six matches—tying Josef Martínez’s 2018 record for the most goals in a six-game span in MLS history.
Inter Miami nearly opened the scoring in the 8th minute with back-to-back chances.
Allende’s shot was saved by Nashville’s goalkeeper, and Suárez sent the rebound just over the bar.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 17th minute when Messi converted a free kick with trademark precision, curling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Messi’s strike gave the home side a 1–0 lead heading into the break.
Miami dominated in the first half but, just four minutes after half-time, Hany Mukhtar’s header pulled Nashville level.
Messi grabbed the winner in the 62nd minute when he capitalized on a bad mistake from Willis, who misjudged a pass to tee up the Argentine for the strike.
The two goals — on the heels of his two in a 2-1 win over New England on Wednesday — took Messi’s total to 16 in 16 appearances this season, tied with Nashville’s Sam Surridge, who was unable to add to his tally of 16 on Saturday.
“There are not many words. It’s incredible what he keeps doing, breaking records now every three days, not even every weekend,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.
“He is the standard-bearer of our team that shows us the way to compete. He is the leader.
“It’s a blessing for me to accompany this stage of his career.”
Miami were playing their third match since returning to MLS action in the wake of a month-long Club World Cup campaign that ended when they were eliminated in the last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
With 38 points from 19 matches, they are in fifth place in the East, five points behind leaders Philadelphia with three games in hand.
Philadelphia went top with a 2-0 victory over New York Red Bulls, Indiana Vassilev and Bruno Damiani delivering the goals.
Cincinnati slipped to second in the East on 42 points after falling 4-2 to Columbus. Nashville and Columbus both have 41 points.
Miami’s jam-packed schedule continues Wednesday against Cincinnati, with the New York Red Bulls coming up next weekend.
Mascherano knows he will have to find time to give the 38-year-old Messi some rest.
“At some point we are going to have to find a space to give him some rest, we are going to talk about it day by day,” he said.
“He is feeling good and when we think it is time to give him some rest, we will do it,” the coach added.
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