Lionel Messi continues to rewrite Main League Soccer historical past, smashing objectives, assists, and even attendance data whereas making an influence each on and off the sector. With a stellar efficiency towards Nashville, the Argentine legend has now set one other MLS milestone, and is closing in on one held by Landon Donovan.
On 2025 MLS Choice Day, Inter Miami visited Geodis Park to face Nashville. Regardless of the house aspect mounting a short 2-1 comeback after Messi opened the scoring, the Argentine star responded in trademark style, netting a hat trick and including an help in a 5-2 win. With the Herons already locked into third place within the Jap Convention, the victory proved key for Messi to write down one more web page in MLS historical past.
Following his efficiency on Choice Day, MLS named Lionel Messi Participant of the Matchday, marking his sixth such honor of the 2025 season. That feat made him the primary participant in league historical past to win the award six occasions in back-to-back seasons, having additionally earned six in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign.
Messi’s six Participant of the Matchday performances this yr got here within the following video games:
- Matchday 16 vs. CF Montreal (4-2): Two objectives, one help.
- Matchday 17 vs. Columbus Crew (5-1): Two objectives, two assists.
- Matchday 22 vs. CF Montreal (4-1): Two objectives, one help.
- Matchdays 23 & 24 vs. New England (2-1) and Nashville (2-1): Two objectives in every match.
- Matchday 26 vs. New York Crimson Bulls (5-1): Two objectives, two assists.
- Matchday 39 vs. (4-2): Hat trick, one help.
Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF poses with the Icon of the Match Award.
After a sluggish begin to the season as a consequence of recurring accidents, Messi has shifted into high gear in the course of the second half of the marketing campaign, outshining each different star in MLS. For comparability, solely three different gamers have earned the glory greater than as soon as this season: San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer (2), FC Cincinnati’s Evander (2), and Philadelphia Union’s Tai Baribo (2).
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Lionel Messi breaks historic Argentina file after successful ninth profession Golden Boot with Inter Miami
Messi now chasing Landon Donovan’s file
Landon Donovan outlined an period in MLS throughout his 15 seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy, a lot in order that the league’s MVP award now bears his title. However with Messi’s arrival within the U.S., certainly one of Donovan’s long-standing data is now inside attain.
Messi has collected 12 Participant of the Matchday awards since becoming a member of Inter Miami, tying him with Bradley Wright-Phillips for third all time. Jeff Cunningham sits second with 14, whereas Donovan tops the listing with 19, nonetheless a substantial lead, however one that might shrink rapidly at Messi’s present tempo.
That leaves the Argentine simply seven awards shy of Donovan’s file. With reviews suggesting Messi is ready to increase his Inter Miami contract by two extra years, surpassing the USMNT legend’s all-time mark feels much less like a query of if and extra of when.
