Messi claims Golden Boot as MLS playoff matchups set on Decision Day
Inter Miami secured third place in the Eastern Conference and will face sixth-seeded Nashville in a best-of-three opening-round playoff series starting Friday.
Lionel Messi capped a stellar MLS regular season by winning the Golden Boot, scoring a hat trick in Inter Miami's 5-2 victory over Nashville on Saturday. The Argentine superstar finished with 29 goals, leaving no doubt about his dominant campaign.
Inter Miami secured third place in the Eastern Conference and will face sixth-seeded Nashville in a best-of-three opening-round playoff series starting Friday. Decision Day, the league's final regular-season day, saw simultaneous matches determining playoff seedings.
Philadelphia Union had already clinched the East's top spot and the Supporters' Shield, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and a place in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. They will play the winner of Wednesday's wild-card match between Chicago Fire and Orlando City.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
In the East, second-seeded Cincinnati meets seventh-seeded Columbus, while fourth-seeded Charlotte faces fifth-seeded NYCFC. In the West, San Diego claimed the top seed with a 4-0 win over Portland and will face the winner of Portland vs. Real Salt Lake. Other matchups: second-seeded Vancouver vs. seventh-seeded Dallas, third-seeded LAFC vs. sixth-seeded Austin, and fourth-seeded Minnesota vs. fifth-seeded Seattle.
D.C. United finished last with 26 points, earning the league's unofficial Wooden Spoon.
