Head coach Javier Mascherano has confirmed that Lionel Messi is set to play for Inter Miami in their final regular season match of the 2025 season against Nashville SC this Saturday, with the captain aiming for the Golden Boot.
Messi enters this matchup after representing Argentina on Tuesday night against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium.
“Yesterday, both Messi and Rodrigo De Paul participated in our training and performed well. Today, they will train fully with us,” Mascherano noted.
“Despite having played on Tuesday, Messi has had some rest since he played on Saturday, and De Paul had limited minutes against Venezuela. This wasn’t an international window that led to significant fatigue.”
“They were able to rest after the game since they didn’t travel. With four days between matches, they can arrive rested and fit. We will have discussions today following our training.”
Mascherano indicated that “almost everyone is available” for Saturday’s outing, with the exceptions of David Ruiz and Allen Obando, who are both still recovering from injuries.
This final match against Nashville presents Messi with an opportunity to secure the 2025 MLS Golden Boot and help Inter Miami achieve home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Currently, Messi leads the Golden Boot race with 26 goals, while Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga is close behind with 24 goals.
Despite nearly winning the Golden Boot in 2024, Messi has yet to claim this trophy since his arrival in MLS during the summer of 2023.
Apart from his goal-scoring prowess, Messi also leads the league in assists for the 2025 season with 18, which strengthens his candidacy for the league MVP award.
Mascherano expressed, “There’s absolutely no doubt that Messi deserves the MVP award, especially given that he has played fewer games than others while still making a significant impact on the team.” This recognition would make him the first player ever to win the MLS MVP consecutively, having claimed the title in 2024.
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Mascherano added, “Assessing Messi solely by his statistics doesn’t capture his full impact. He elevates the team’s performance and enhances the enjoyment of everyone watching.”
Inter Miami has already secured a playoff berth but will find out their Round One opponent after the regular season concludes on Saturday night.