Nashville SC will close the 2025 MLS regular season at home against Inter Miami, in a match worth far more than just three points. It’s the kind of clash that defines tone, confidence, and direction before the playoffs. Even with a postseason spot already secured, the Tennessee side sees this game as a golden chance to build momentum and secure a more favorable position in the standings. On the other side, Inter Miami arrive with Messi in top form, riding a strong run and focused on ending the regular season with authority.
Nashville and the search for balance before the decisive stage
Nashville enter the match in sixth place with 54 points and can still move up depending on other results. The Eastern Conference is so tight that only five points separate fourth place from ninth. A win against Miami could give them home-field advantage in two first-round matches, an edge that means a lot in such a competitive league.
Forward Sam Surridge has been the star of the season with 23 goals, remaining the team’s main offensive hope. Hany Mukhtar, with 11 assists, continues to be the creative force and technical leader in midfield.
The numbers help explain their current form: Nashville have won four of their last six home games and rely heavily on GEODIS Park as one of their biggest strengths. However, the recent record against Inter Miami is a warning sign. It’s been eight straight matches without a win over the Florida club, adding emotional weight to the duel and highlighting the need for a response before the playoffs.
Messi and Inter Miami arrive confident and in control
Inter Miami are living the opposite moment. Javier Mascherano’s team crushed Atlanta United 4–0 in their last match and head to Nashville full of confidence. Messi scored twice, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez added one each, and the team showed the same authority that has made them one of the top contenders for the title. With 62 points, 18 wins, and just seven losses, Miami have solidified third place in the Eastern Conference.
Beyond the team’s success, Messi’s individual form is remarkable. The Argentine leads the Golden Boot race with 26 goals and is in one of the most dominant phases of his MLS career. He also became the first player in league history to record nine multi-goal games in a single regular season. And if the stats weren’t enough, the collective impact is equally impressive: Miami are unbeaten in eight straight matches, with seven wins and one draw in that stretch.