Sports Desk:

Lionel Messi continued his remarkable form with a fifth consecutive multi-goal match, leading Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over Nashville SC on Saturday night and halting Nashville’s 15-game unbeaten streak.

With this victory, Miami (11-3-5) secured its fifth straight win and climbed to fifth place in the Supporters’ Shield standings, reinforcing its pursuit of back-to-back league titles.

Messi, who made history earlier in the week as the first player in MLS history with four straight multi-goal games, added to that tally against Nashville. The 38-year-old Argentine star opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a low free-kick that curved through the defensive wall.

Although Nashville drew level early in the second half with a header from Hany Mukhtar, Messi restored Miami’s lead in the 62nd minute, intercepting a poor pass from Nashville keeper Joe Willis and calmly slotting home.

Messi now boasts 16 goals in 16 MLS matches this season, tying Nashville’s Sam Surridge (16 goals in 21 matches) as the league’s top scorer.

Nashville (12-5-5), previously unbeaten since mid-April across all competitions, had surged to third place in the Supporters’ Shield race. The streak was the longest active run in MLS and marked the best stretch in the club’s six-year history.

Messi’s first goal brought his total to 55 goals in 66 appearances for Inter Miami.