On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Lionel Messi once again proved decisive as Inter Miami CF edged Nashville SC 2-1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The victory ended Nashville’s 15-match unbeaten run across all competitions and marked Messi’s fifth straight multi-goal game in Major League Soccer—a league record.
Inter Miami drew first blood in the 17th minute when Messi curled a trademark free-kick over the wall and out of the reach of goalkeeper Joe Willis. The Argentine’s precision from set pieces has been a hallmark of his MLS campaign, and this strike extended his league-record scoring streak.
Nashville SC responded early in the second half, leveling the score in the 49th minute via a perfectly-timed header from Hany Mukhtar off Andy Najar’s pinpoint cross. Mukhtar’s goal was his 10th of the season, keeping Nashville competitive despite Miami’s dominance in possession.
However, a crucial error by Willis in the 62nd minute saw him miscontrol a back-pass, allowing Messi to pounce, work the ball around the stranded keeper, and slot home the winner. This moment encapsulated Messi’s razor-sharp instincts and sealed the 2-1 result for the hosts
With this win, Inter Miami improved to 11-5-3 (38 points), moving within striking distance of the conference leaders. Nashville SC, now 12-5-5 (41 points), saw their cushion shrink despite maintaining top-three status.
