Inter Miami CF closed out the 2025 MLS regular season in emphatic style, storming back from a halftime deficit to beat Nashville SC 5-2 at GEODIS Park on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The result, which was talked about in the match preview reported by SoftFootball , secured third place in the Eastern Conference for Miami 19-8-7, 65 points and set up a playoff rematch against sixth-placed Nashville 16-6-12, 54 points in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The night belonged to Lionel Messi, who delivered yet another masterclass. His hat-trick, combined with goals from Baltasar Rodriguez and Telasco Segovia, capped a brilliant comeback for Javier Mascherano's side. The win came just weeks after SoftFootball reported Mascherano praising Messi's leadership following their 4-0 demolition of Atlanta United , and the Argentine captain once again proved decisive when it mattered most.
Messi opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a curling effort from distance, but Nashville hit back through Sam Surridge and Jacob Shaffelburg to lead 2-1 at the break. The second half, though, was all Inter Miami. Messi equalized from the penalty spot in 63 minutes after a handball inside the area before Rodriguez pounced on a rebound to make it 3-2 just four minutes later.