Sam Surridge leads the MLS scoring race: will he surpass Messi in the final match?.

According to The Sun: The player, who previously played for Stoke, Yeovil, and Weymouth, is now competing for the Golden Boot in MLS alongside Lionel Messi.

Sam Surridge, currently playing for Nashville SC, has already scored 23 goals, which is only one less than the “Greatest of All Time” and Denis Bouanga from LAFC.

src=' alt='Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF celebrates a goal.' class='alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-36971489' width='960' height='640' /> Getty

He is actively fighting for the Golden Boot with Messi.

The former England youth international is going through tough times as he has only one game left to claim this title, unlike Messi's two matches and Bouanga's three.

This game will take place at home against Inter Miami, which Surridge is preparing for eagerly.

“I probably need to score a hat-trick, so it won't be easy,” he shares with SunSport. “But I always believe in myself, and it would be an incredible achievement.”

Sam, who began his career at Bournemouth under Eddie Howe, has had several loan spells in the lower leagues.

Career Transformation

He spent half a season at Stoke before moving to Nottingham Forest, where he played 20 Premier League matches but scored only once. Now he has become a key figure at Nashville.

Surridge noted that it was Messi who inspired his move to MLS. “I initially didn’t want to leave as I dreamed of staying in England,” he said. “But after I saw Messi join Inter Miami, I realized that the league would become more popular.”

src=' alt='Ander Herrera of Manchester United and Sam Surridge of Yeovil Town during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match.' class='alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-36971500' width='960' height='643' /> Surridge played for Yeovil during his time in England Getty Images - Getty

Unfortunate Experience and New Stage

Surridge recalled his previous match against Inter Miami, where his team lost 2-1 due to two goals from Messi, including an incredible free kick. “It was insane — you already knew where he would place the ball,” he shared.

In recent matches, Surridge has become Nashville's top scorer and recently scored the decisive goal that brought the club the U.S. Cup, equivalent to the FA Cup. “Now I’m the top scorer in the team and have more time with family, which gives me a new focus,” he added.

src=' alt='Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge #9 heads a ball into the goal past Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andrew Rick #76.' class='alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-36971513' width='960' height='640' /> Getty

Adapting to Conditions

Surridge noted that the temperature in Nashville can pose a serious challenge for England’s players in the upcoming World Cup. “They may face difficulties due to the heat,” he emphasized. “It could affect their game.”

Regarding advice for the national team, he stressed: “You can't just conserve energy in the game; it's important to choose the right moments to attack.”

src=' alt='Sam Surridge of Nottingham Forest celebrating a goal that was later disallowed by VAR.' class='alignnone size-thesun-article-image wp-image-36971533' width='960' height='640' /> Getty Sam Surridge, who is increasingly making a name for himself in MLS, has found himself in the spotlight due to his fantastic performance in Nashville. The competition for the Golden Boot against players like Messi and Bouanga reflects how much the level of soccer is rising in America. Upcoming matches will be decisive in determining the winner of this prestigious individual trophy.