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MLS Announce Lionel Messi Honor Before Inter Miami vs Nashville SC Playoff Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 8:35 PM ET

Lionel Messi received recognition before the start of the match between Inter Miami and Nashville, in his first of three possible games in the 2025 MLS playoffs.

The trophy that Messi, 38, received is the Golden Boot, for being the top goal scorer of the MLS during the regular season with 29 goals.

28 games. 29 goals. One Audi Golden Boot.

Another trophy for Leo Messi’s collection. pic.twitter.com/b6b71FGLVk
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 25, 2025

The Argentine star, who a few hours ago extended his contract with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 campaign, surpassed players like Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Sam Surridge (Nashville), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), and Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire) in the race for that recognition.

His closest pursuers, Bouanga, 30, and Surridge, 27, scored 24 goals each. Messi distanced himself from them in the last match of the regular season against Nashville, a match in which he scored a hat-trick.

Inter Miami vs Nashville Confirmed Lineups

Javier Mascherano decided not to speculate and lined up a very competitive starting eleven for this match, with Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Rodrigo De Paul.

Inter Miami confirmed lineup vs. Nashville: Rios Novo; Fray, Allen, Falcon, Alba; De Paul, Busquets; Allende, Messi, Rodriguez; Suarez.

Nashville, for its part, only presented two changes with respect to its last game against Miami, incorporating into its starting eleven Bryan Acosta and Jeison Palacios.

Nashville confirmed lineup vs. Inter Miami: Willis; Najar, Palacios, Zimmerman, Lovitz; Tagseth, Yazbek, Acosta; Mukhtar, Surridge, Shaffelburg.

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

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