FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Lionel Messi’s back looked fine. His legs were spry. And his head was on target.
Messi scored two goals, Tadeo Allende added another and No. 3 Inter Miami beat No. 6 Nashville 3-1 in Game 1 of their MLS Cup Playoffs first-round, best-of-three series at Chase Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24.
Messi quickly made his presence felt to spark Inter Miami’s night. He received the MLS Golden Boot Award from commissioner Don Garber before the game, and signed a three-year contract extension with the club one day earlier.
“He certainly seems pretty happy when he’s scoring goals the way he did. And he’ll be very happy to get the Golden Boot. Maybe, there are more awards coming for him in this year,” Garber said of Messi before the game, and the possibility he could win the league MVP award later this postseason.
Messi scored a flying header in the 19th, receiving a pass from Luis Suarez inside the box and took flight. His forehead connected onto the ball to find the back of the net for the 890th goal of his career.
Allende scored in the 62nd minute, following an assist by Ian Fray and Messi to double the lead.
Messi put the icing on the match with a simple putback in the final minutes (90’+6’) for goal No. 891, before Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar scored in the final minutes (90’+11′).
Messi missed a practice session on Tuesday due to some back discomfort, but returned to practice on Wednesday. He also visited Miami Freedom Park, the team’s new stadium expected to open in 2026, where he signed his new contract.
He appeared just fine to fuel Inter Miami’s night.
“Everything that happens around Leo gets blown out of proportion, and often when he reaches the playoffs and the renewal isn’t official, it could cause a bit of a stir. But in our case, nothing would change,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.
Inter Miami will take a 1-0 series lead to Nashville’s Geodis Park for Game 2 on Saturday, Nov. 1. If Game 3 is necessary, it will return to Inter Miami on Nov. 8.
MLS playoff games don’t count on aggregate score like other soccer leagues around the world.
A win is a win.
And Inter Miami is one step closer to reaching the conference semifinals.
“We know that the playoffs are tough, so we wanted to start with a win at home,” Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul said. “I hope this is just the beginning, but I think the team did very well today in terms of intensity, concentration, and understanding the moments, when to attack, when to defend. I think today we showed that we are growing as a team, and that’s the most important thing.”
Added defender Maxi Falcon: “We know it’s five matches to win, and any team can emerge as a champion. It’s a 10-month process, but this win gives us confidence to start.”
Check out updates and highlights from the Inter Miami-Nashville match:
Inter Miami vs. Nashville highlights
Inter Miami 3, Nashville 1: Hany Mukhtar scores goal (90’+11)
Inter Miami 3, Nashville 0: Messi scores again (90’+6′)
Inter Miami 2, Nashville 0: Tadeo Allende scores goal (62’)
Inter Miami has doubled its lead as Tadeo Allende scored a header after an assist from Ian Fray. Messi gets the second assist for the play as well.
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Busquets, De Paul gets yellow cards (56’)
Things are getting chippy here: Sergio Busquets was shown a yellow card after a clearance, which he slid into Nashville’s Edvard Tagseth. Shortly after, Rodrigo De Paul was given a yellow card, despite getting pushed by Nashville’s Sam Surridge (who didn’t receive one).
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi free kick results in no handball (52’)
No handball called on a free kick from Messi outside the box in the direction of Luis Suarez.
Halftime: Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0
Messi’s goal in the 19th minute is the early difference in this match. Here’s another replay:
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Luis Suarez misses shots toward net (43’)
Luis Suarez swung his leg twice – once with the right, then the left – connecting with shots that deflected off defenders just before halftime.
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi’s shot blocked (36′)
Messi’s left boot was blocked by Nashville’s Walker Zimmerman.
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Ian Fray misses shot on side of the net (32’)
Inter Miami defender Ian Fray made a run up the pitch, and received a through pass from Messi. But Fray’s shot was off the mark.
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Tadeo Allende misses right boot (31’)
Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende missed a right boot, saved by Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis.
Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi scores header (18’)
Messi uses his head to connect with a goal in the 18th minute to give Inter Miami an early lead. The finish was superb on an assist from Luis Suarez.
Inter Miami 0, Nashville 0: Jacob Shaffelburg misses shot (11’)
Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg missed a decent chance at the net, but his shot from the center of the box was saved by Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo.
Inter Miami 0, Nashville 0: Messi’s free kick goes into crowd (4’)
Messi’s first chance toward the net soared into the stands, after a free kick early in the match.
Messi poses with Golden Boot Award
Don Garber awards Lionel Messi with MLS Golden Boot award
David Beckham in attendance for Inter Miami vs. Nashville opener
Sir David Beckham, an Inter Miami co-owner, is in attendance for Game 1.
Messi arrives to the stadium before the match
Inter Miami vs. Nashville starting lineups
Messi is a starter for the match. Here are the lineups for both teams:
Is Messi playing today?
Yes, Messi is expected to play. His status will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup an hour before the match.
What time is the Inter Miami vs. Nashville match?
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Nashville, 9 p.m. in Argentina).
Buy Inter Miami tickets on StubHub
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville on TV and live stream?
The match will be on Apple TV, FS1 and Fox Deportes in the United States.
Watch MLS Cup Playoffs on Apple TV
The latest on Messi’s new deal with Inter Miami
Messi agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2028 to remain with Inter Miami, the club announced on Thursday, Oct. 23.
‘Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to continue here,’ Messi said in a statement as he signed the contract inside Inter Miami’s future stadium, Miami Freedom Park, which is expected to open in 2026.
What happened in the last Inter Miami vs. Nashville match?
Messi scored in the 34th, 63rd and 81st minutes, and assisted Telasco Segovia’s final blow in 90’+1’. Baltasar Rodriguez (67’) also scored for Inter Miami in the 5-2 win.
Sam Surridge, who finished tied for second in the Golden Boot race with 24 goals like LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, scored in the 43rd minute. Jacob Shaffelburg also scored in first-half injury time (45’+6’) for Nashville.
Messi, Inter Miami MLS Cup playoff schedule
- Nov. 1: Game 2 at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Nov. 8: Game 3 at Inter Miami, Time TBD (if necessary)
- No. 10-18: FIFA international window
- Nov. 22-23: Conference semifinals
- Nov. 29-30: Conference finals
- Dec. 6: MLS Cup Final
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