Lionel Messi scored two goals and assisted two more and Inter Miami advanced in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history with a 4-0 victory over visiting Nashville SC in Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Messi finished the best-of-three series with five goals and three assists, meaning he was involved in all eight tallies for third-seeded Miami. He has scored 15 times against sixth-seeded Nashville in all competitions, by far his most against any MLS opponent.
By contrast, Messi has never scored against No 2 seed FC Cincinnati, which will host Inter Miami in a one-game Eastern Conference semifinal in two weeks.
Tadeo Allende scored twice after halftime and had an assist as Miami won despite playing without striker Luis Suarez, who served a one-game suspension for his kick out at Nashville SC's Andy Najar in Game 2.
Nashville was eliminated in the first round in a third consecutive postseason appearance, having returned to the playoffs in the first full season coached by BJ Callaghan after missing the 2024 tournament.
Messi put Miami in front in the 10th minute in the first clear chance for either side.
Ian Fray's pressure forced Nashville's Matthew Corcoran into an ill-advised backward pass which Allende deflected to Messi's feet, with time and space to surge forward.
Messi did the rest, dribbling at retreating centre back Jack Maher before firing a low finish from about 20 yards out between goalkeeper Joe Willis and the right post.
Then Walker Zimmerman's defensive error helped set up Messi's second in the 39th minute when he reached Jordi Alba's long, speculative ball down the left flank but failed to clear it.
Instead, it fell to Mateo Silvetti, who alertly spotted Messi running into space and provided the square pass in stride for a much simpler second finish.
Nashville thought it had pulled a goal back only seconds into the second half, only for apparent goal-scorer Sam Surridge to be whistled for a foul on Maxi Falcon.
But eventually Miami added insurance through Allende twice in the 73rd and 76th minutes.
On the first, Messi and Alba combined on the left side of the box to set up Allende's low finish through traffic. On the second, it was Messi sending an early throughball, and Allende chipping past Willis on the run.