MIAMI:

A rampant Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to virtually seal Major League Soccer's Golden Boot award on Saturday as Inter Miami roared into the playoffs with a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC.

The Argentine superstar came into the final day of the regular season leading the scoring table with 26 goals -- two more than Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga.

Bouanga was in action later Saturday, but with an astonishing 29 goals from 28 matches, was poised to claim his first MLS Golden Boot and also staked his claim to a second Most Valuable Player award with a bravura performance that saw Inter rally to clinch third place in the Eastern Conference.

They'll face the same Nashville team in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs starting on October 24.

"What can I say about Leo?"

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