Lionel Messi, the second-highest scorer in professional football history, has broken countless records throughout his career. Yet when asked about his favorite goal, he once pointed to a rare header he scored for Barcelona. On Saturday, he repeated that feat in Inter Miami colors, inspiring his team to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC with a brace that included a soaring header.
The Argentine superstar had signed a new three-year contract with Miami just a day earlier. His Golden Boot award was already secured after finishing the regular MLS season with a league-best 29 goals. Before kickoff, MLS Commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the trophy, and the forward wasted no time justifying the honor. He opened the scoring with a flying header and later added a second to seal the victory.
Miami led 2-0 in regulation time, but Nashville pulled one back in the 96th minute, six minutes after Messi’s second goal. At Chase Stadium, Miami controlled 53 percent of possession, firing 12 shots with six on target. Nashville managed six attempts, three of which tested the goalkeeper.
The win marked Miami’s second triumph over Nashville in just over a week. In their final league match, Messi’s hat-trick powered a 5-2 victory. This latest result gives Javier Mascherano’s side the upper hand in the first round of the MLS playoffs, played in a best-of-three format.
Messi struck first in the 19th minute, meeting a Luis Suárez cross in the center of the box. He floated slightly to his right and directed a precise header into the net, sending Miami into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
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