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Who Would Lionel Messi & Inter Miami Face In MLS Playoffs?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 8:17 PM ET

Inter Miami visited Nashville SC on the occasion of the last round of the MLS 2025 regular season on Decision Day before the playoffs.

The team of Lionel Messi and Co. arrived at this match already qualified for the next phase, but still waiting to know their rival in the quarter-finals, a phase that is decided in a best-of-three game series.

Miami defeated Atlanta United 4-0 on the last matchday on October 11, and before that, they thrashed New England 4-1 on October 4. The team led by Javier Mascherano arrived at this encounter with a positive streak.

Nashville, for its part, came from drawing 1-1 against Montreal, and before that, they defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1.

Play-Off Picture for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami Is Coming Into Focus

Inter Miami defeated Nashville 5-2, with a hat-trick from Lionel Messi (35', 63', 81'), a goal from Baltasar Rodríguez (67'), and another from Telasco Segovia (90+1').

By rule, the third-place classified of the Eastern Conference (Inter Miami) must face the sixth-place team, which in this case is Nashville.

Playoffs in the Eastern Conference bracket:

Philadelphia vs. the winner of the Play-In match between Chicago and Orlando
Cincinnati vs. Columbus
Inter Miami vs. Nashville
Charlotte vs. New York City

The winner of a best-of-three game series would qualify for the semifinals, a phase in which Leo Messi could face the winner between Cincinnati and Columbus, and in case of a qualification to the conference final, they would face a team between Philadelphia, Chicago/Orlando, Charlotte, or New York City, depending on the results.

The Western Conference bracket will be defined later tonight.

Is Leo Messi the MLS Scoring Leader? Ranking of Goals and Assists

After reaching his 29th goal of the season, Messi arrives as the solo scoring leader to the playoffs; therefore, he is closer to winning the season's golden boot. Behind him are Dennis Bouanga (LAFC) with 24 goals and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), also with 24 goals.

The Argentine star is also the leader in assists at the moment, with 19, surpassing Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), with 18. Behind them are Evander (Cincinnati), Martin Ojeda (Orlando), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire), and Jordi Alba (Inter Miami), all with 15.

Therefore, Messi registers 50 goal contributions in 28 games played in the 2025 MLS season, according to the league's standards (a pass preceding an assist is considered an assist).

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

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