Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

Mascherano's Warning To Messi & Inter Miami Players After Defeating Nashville

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 11:43 PM ET

Inter Miami defeated Nashville 3-1 at Chase Stadium in the first of three possible games in the MLS playoffs.

Lionel Messi shone with a brace, assisted by Luis Suarez in one of the goals. The other goal was from Tadeo Allende, assisted by Ian Fray.

Messi, 38, broke an impressive record, becoming the MLS player with the most goals (39) in a calendar year, surpassing Denis Bouanga (LAFC, 2023) and Carlos Vela (LAFC, 2019), both with 38.

At the end of the match, coach Javier Mascherano addressed the press and sent a message to his players regarding their next match in Nashville.

Mascherano Knows Nashville Outplayed Inter Miami at Times

Mascherano made it clear that, although they took the victory this Friday, Nashville is a good team and they will have to adjust their strategy next Saturday, November 1st.

"The players did very well. We won first, but the (series) has just begun," said the Argentine coach, in statements collected by reporter Alex Windley.

Mascherano on the game:

"The players did very well. We won first, but the [series] has just begun."

Say Nashville is a good team and can adjust for the next game.#InterMiamiCF #MLS
— Alex Windley (@aaw_1998) October 25, 2025

Last Saturday, The Herons defeated Nashville 5-2 in the last match of the regular season, but for a long period of time, BJ Callaghan's team was superior.

During the first 45 minutes of that match, The Boys in Gold had an expected goals (xG) of 2.76, widely superior to Miami's 0.61. They registered 12 total shots and six on goal, while Messi and Co.'s team only shot four times and once on goal.

Mascherano is aware of this and will not take their next matchup lightly, especially considering that they could seal their ticket to the conference semifinals that same night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: