After elevating the MLS Golden Boot trophy, Lionel Messi guided Inter Miami CF to a powerful 3-1 victory over Nashville SC, scoring two objectives within the Main League Soccer playoffs opener on Friday evening.

Earlier than the match, MLS commissioner Don Garber introduced the Argentina star with the 2025 Golden Boot award, declaring the ahead had reset the trajectory for the league.

Messi clinched the Golden Boot by scoring 29 objectives in 28 video games, incomes the award for the primary time since becoming a member of Inter Miami in 2023.

“I’m right here tonight not simply to attend the sport however to current Leo with the Golden Boot,” Garber stated. “I don’t suppose we ever might have imagined that Leo would have been in a position to ship for this membership, for this metropolis and for this league the way in which he had.”

The presentation of the award comes a day after Inter Miami introduced Messi signed a three-year contract extension with the membership, conserving him in South Florida by way of the 2028 season.

“He has reset the trajectory for Main League Soccer, and we have been already doing fairly effectively. And I believe having three extra years is simply going to be one other reward,” Garber stated.

“Hopefully, it’s the reward that retains on giving. It’s been only a thrill to observe him play and to see how completely satisfied he’s right here in Miami and right here in the US.”

Messi, the heavy favourite to win his second consecutive league MVP honor, additionally completed because the co-league chief in assists with 19.

When Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, he rapidly impressed the membership to win that 12 months’s inaugural Leagues Cup trophy earlier than clinching the 2024 Supporters’ Protect and setting the MLS document for many factors recorded in a single season.

Individually, Messi earned the 2024 MVP award and is a finalist for the 2025 version. Ought to Messi win the award, he’ll turn into the primary MLS participant to clinch it on two consecutive events.