Lionel Messi wins MLS Golden Boot, playoff matchups set on Decision Day | MLS

Lionel Messi left no doubt on the day of the decision.

The Argentine icon scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Nashville on Saturday night to win the Major League Soccer Golden Boot with 29 goals this season.

Inter Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference standings and will face sixth-seeded Nashville again starting Friday in the best-of-three first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Saturday was the league’s traditional decision day, the final day of the regular season where the two conferences each played games simultaneously with playoff spots and seeding on the line.

“The truth is that Leo was exceptional, as he usually is. I think if anyone had doubts about his regular season, he cleared them all. He will surely receive the MVP award,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the match.

The Philadelphia Union had already clinched first place in the East Region and won the league’s Supporters’ Shield with a 1-0 victory over NYC FC on October 4. Philadelphia also earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The Union will face the winner of Wednesday’s wild-card matchup between the eighth-ranked Chicago Fire and ninth-ranked Orlando City in the best-of-three first-round playoff series. The Fire earned their first playoff berth since 2017 under first-year head coach Gregg Berhalter, the former coach of the United States men’s national team.

All of the East’s playoff spots had already been claimed, but Saturday’s games determined the playoff matchups. In addition to the first-round series between Inter Miami and Nashville, second-seeded Cincinnati will face No. 7 Columbus and No. 4 Charlotte will meet No. 5 NYCFC. The higher seed gets home-court advantage.

“What a great opportunity we have to face a rival in the playoffs and in meaningful best-of-three games,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “If you’re not excited about this and these opportunities, plus being a playoff team and playing in front of our fans in the first game, there’s something missing.”

Four Western Conference teams were clamoring for a playoff spot on Decision Day: the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes.

Colorado hosted LAFC needing a win to advance or a draw and an assist. But Los Angeles has been a juggernaut since signing Son Heung-Min in August. The teams tied 2-2 in Colorado, eliminating the Rapids from the playoffs.

Vancouver needed a win or draw against Dallas to secure the West’s top seed, but defender Mathías Laborda was sent off with a red card in the 11th minute and the Whitecaps played with 10 until the end and Dallas won 2–1.

The top seed went to expansion San Diego, who beat the Timbers 4-0 in Portland. San Diego has established several superlatives for an expansion club, including most wins (19) and most points (63).

San Diego will face the winner of Wednesday’s wild-card matchup between Portland and visiting Real Salt Lake, which drew 2-2 against St. Louis.

Seventh-seeded Dallas will face second-seeded Vancouver, No. 6 Austin will face No. 3 LAFC and No. 5 Seattle will face No. 4 Minnesota.

The wooden spoon, an unofficial award given to the worst team in the league, went to DC United, who finished 5-18-11 with 26 points.