‘Lucky to watch Leo up close’: Mascherano lauds Messi after hattrick

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano could hardly hide his excitement as he watched Lionel Messi deliver yet another masterclass, scoring a hat trick in the club's 5-2 victory over Nashville on the final day of the MLS regular season.

"What can I say about Leo? The truth is that he was exceptional today, as he usually is. Clearly, I think that if anyone had any doubts about what his regular season had been like, the truth is that he has dispelled any doubts," Mascherano said during the post-match press conference at GEODIS Park.

"They'll probably give him the MVP for everything he's shown. I'm happy for him because he helped us win the game again, so I'm happy," he added.

Messi, 38, finished the regular season with 29 goals and 19 assists, securing the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer.

"I'm lucky because I get to enjoy Leo up close. Sometimes people watch him on TV, but I'm closer. Leo is the best player to ever play this game. He continues to prove it, and I'm very satisfied with him. He was fantastic today," Mascherano said in English, reflecting his admiration for his former national teammate.

Inter Miami's emphatic win lifted them to third place in the Eastern Conference. Coincidentally, they will face Nashville again in the opening round of the playoffs — a best-of-three series.

"The team, in terms of its physicality, has played every three days, and now playing once a week is going to be very good for us. I'm happy with the level everyone has shown. It's about continuing along these lines," Mascherano said.

"Your opponents are who you face. We'll have to face Nashville again, and we'll have to prepare ourselves in the best way possible to get a win at home," he added.