🎥 Messi strike narrows Golden Boot race as Inter Miami take the lead | OneFootball

It would not be an MLS weekend without a bit of magic from Lionel Messi as Inter Miami jumped to a 1-0 lead over visiting Nashville in South Florida.

With the Herons looking to extend their current winning run to five on the spin while hopefully closing the gap to the top of the Eastern Conference, the little magician turned up big once again from a set-piece inside the opening 20 minutes.

Tricky as ever, Messi expertly slotted home his free-kick effort to beat veteran Boys in Gold shot-stopper Joe Willis, sliding his shot under the wall and into the bottom far corner.

Currently in some of the best form across his entire MLS stint in the wake of the club's exit from the 2025 Club World Cup, Messi remains on the hunt for personal accolades as he closes ranks with Nashville's Sam Surridge at the top of the Golden Boot race.

📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Sam Navarro | 2025 Jul 12 - Imagn Images