The MLS regular season drew to a close on Saturday with its 34th and final round of fixtures, locking in the play-off match-ups scheduled to get underway on 19 November.

Inter Miami, who finished second in the Eastern Conference, squandered a three-goal first-half cushion (Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul) to end up drawing 3-3 against Charlotte.

Lionel Messi drew a blank on Saturday at the Nu Stadium in Miami, but nevertheless secured the Golden Boot for the second year running with 26 goals. Dallas' Croatian forward Petar Musa took second spot on 22, followed by Surridge on 21.

Inter Miami will battle Columbus Crew in the first round of the play-offs. The Crew grabbed the final post-season berth courtesy of a 4-3 thriller against Robert Lewandowski's Chicago Fire, sealed by a 93rd-minute strike from Galician midfielder Brais Mendez.

Record-breaking Nashville

Supporters' Shield champions Nashville finished top of the Eastern Conference with 77 points, breaking Inter Miami's 2024 record of 74. Out West, the Vancouver Whitecaps clinched top spot.

Nashville ran out 2-0 winners at Cincinnati on the final day courtesy of a brace from English striker Sam Surridge, while Vancouver registered an identical result in Montreal thanks to goals from Senegalese attacker Cheikh Sabaly and Moldovan forward Mihail Gherasimencov.