Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and Inter Miami completed comeback against Nashville SC with 5-2 victory

Inter Miami CF defeated Nashville SC 5-2 on Saturday at Geodis Park, completing a remarkable comeback led by Lionel Messi's hat trick performance. The Argentine captain converted a penalty and scored two additional goals as Inter Miami erased a two-goal deficit to close out the 2025 MLS regular season with a dominant display.

Nashville SC established a 2-0 advantage in the opening half through quick transitions and effective attacking play. The hosts capitalized on their opportunities as they looked to improve their playoff seeding on the final day of the regular season.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half as Inter Miami began their comeback. The visitors, sitting third in the Eastern Conference with 62 points entering the match, demonstrated their offensive capabilities by scoring five unanswered goals.


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Lionel Messi completes hat trick with penalty conversion and open-play goals

Messi opened his account by converting a penalty kick awarded after Andy Najar handled the ball in the box. The referee pointed to the spot after Messi attempted to find Luis Suárez with a pass, and the Uruguayan's deflection struck Najar's right arm.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner added two more goals to complete his hat trick, demonstrating the clinical finishing that has defined his remarkable season. The performance extended Messi's lead in the race for the 2025 Golden Boot presented by Audi, with the Argentine legend now having scored 26 goals in 27 appearances during the regular season.

Messi became the first player in MLS history to produce nine multi-goal games in a single regular season, adding another milestone to his already historic campaign with Inter Miami.

Baltasar Rodríguez scores comeback goal after Luis Suárez rebound

Midfielder Baltasar Rodríguez netted the equalizing goal after taking advantage of a rebound from a Luis Suárez shot. Goalkeeper Joe Willis made the initial save on Suárez's attempt, but the ball fell to Rodríguez, who finished to bring Inter Miami level.

The goal shifted momentum decisively in Inter Miami's favor after Nashville had controlled the early proceedings. Rodríguez had earlier come close to scoring when he met a Messi cross with a header, but Willis produced a great save to keep the shot out.

Telasco Segovia seals victory with fifth goal after Messi assist

Venezuelan midfielder Telasco Segovia scored Inter Miami's fifth goal after a combination play ended with a pass from Messi. The Argentine left Segovia alone in front of goal, and the midfielder finished clinically to complete the rout.

The goal came in stoppage time as Inter Miami continued pressing forward despite already securing the victory. Referee added five minutes of additional time before concluding the match.

Joe Willis produces saves but cannot prevent Inter Miami onslaught

Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis made several impressive saves throughout the match, including his reaction stop on Rodríguez's header in the second half. Willis finished with eight saves as he repeatedly faced pressure from Inter Miami's attack.

Despite Willis's efforts, Inter Miami's offensive quality eventually overwhelmed Nashville's defense. The visitors registered multiple shots on target throughout the second half as they dominated possession and controlled the tempo.

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Nashville SC makes multiple substitutions attempting to stem tide

Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan made several substitutions in an attempt to maintain control of the match. Tyler Boyd entered to replace Jacob Shaffelburg as the first change, followed by additional adjustments.

Gastón Brugman and Josh Bauer came on for Patrick Yazbek and Alex Muyl as Nashville searched for defensive stability. Teal Bunbury and Bryan Acosta also entered the match, replacing Hany Mukhtar and Edvard Sandvik Tagseth in the closing stages.

The changes failed to slow Inter Miami's momentum as the visitors continued creating dangerous opportunities in the attacking third.

Inter Miami secures home-field advantage for playoffs with strong finish

Inter Miami entered the match having already clinched home-field advantage for Round One of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs following their 4-0 victory over Atlanta United the previous week. The performance against Nashville demonstrated the team's form heading into the postseason.

The club finished the regular season with an 18-7-8 record for 62 points, securing third place in the Eastern Conference. Inter Miami extended their unbeaten run against Nashville to eight matches, with seven wins and one draw during that stretch.

Inter Miami holds a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series between the clubs, with four matches ending in draws. The visitors dominated the recent matchups, with Nashville's last victory coming in May 2023 at Geodis Park.

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Nashville SC maintains playoff position despite Decision Day defeat

Nashville SC entered the match sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with 54 points from a 16-11-6 record. The defeat did not impact their playoff qualification, which had been secured since late September.

The compressed nature of the Eastern Conference standings meant Nashville could have moved as high as fourth place or dropped as low as eighth depending on other results. Geodis Park is guaranteed to host at least one playoff game for the first time since 2023.

A quirk of the scheduling means if both teams maintain their positions, their next two and potentially three matches would all be against each other in the playoff series. Recent history favors Inter Miami, who have won eight consecutive matches against Nashville dating back to 2023.