No one in the history of Major League Soccer has ever put together a regular season quite like this.
Nashville SC officially rewrote the league’s record books on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, securing a 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati that pushed their final points total to 77. The milestone performance officially dethrones Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami side from 2024, pushing past the previous high-water mark of 74 points and leaving the 2021 New England Revolution’s 73-point campaign further back in the rearview mirror.
B.J. Callaghan’s squad did it through sheer, unrelenting consistency, dropping just three matches all year while racking up 23 wins and eight draws.
Building a Record-Breaking Campaign
The numbers behind Nashville’s historic run reflect an operation that clicked on both sides of the ball from the opening whistle. Offseason additions injected vital firepower into an already dangerous attack, headlined by winger Cristian Espinoza arriving from the San Jose Earthquakes to join a front line featuring former MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar and forward Sam Surridge.
39-year-old Messi wins second MLS Golden Boot as Nashville SC sets points record pic.twitter.com/4wSmR8EmLx
At the other end of the pitch, young American goalkeeper Brian Schwake seized the starting job. Behind him, a suffocating defensive unit anchored by newcomers Maxwell Woledzi and fullback Reed Baker-Whiting alongside center back Jeisson Palacios and right back Andy Najar conceded a meager 25 goals across the entire regular-season schedule.
Manager B.J. Callaghan pointed directly to that collective depth during his post-match news conference.

“I’m really proud of the guys. From day one it’s been a collective effort. Even when you look back at how many players have been given opportunities, played, and made the most of their opportunities. And the consistency of our play with or without the ball. It’s just really a tremendous honor and the players have to get the large majority of the credit.”
That relentless style translated well beyond domestic play. Earlier in the year, the Boys in Gold mounted a fierce charge in the Concacaf Champions Cup, making history as the first MLS team to ever defeat Club América at the famed Estadio Azteca before eventually falling to Tigres in the continental semifinals.
The Postseason Road Ahead
Having already punched their ticket as the winners of the Supporters’ Shield, Nashville will pause briefly to absorb the weight of their regular-season points record before turning their full focus toward the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The objective now is singular. Nashville SC stands on the cusp of delivering the state of Tennessee its first-ever championship trophy for a professional team in one of the major U.S. leagues.
| Team | Season | Points | Record (W-L-D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville SC | 2026 | 77 | 23-3-8 |
| Inter Miami | 2024 | 74 | 22-4-8 |
| New England Revolution | 2021 | 73 | 22-5-7 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2019 | 72 | 21-4-9 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2018 | 71 | 22-7-5 |
Whether this defensive solidity and tactical discipline can translate through a grueling knockout tournament remains the final question left to answer.
Nashville SC just finished with 77 points, the most in MLS history. That beats the 74 Messi and Inter Miami put up in 2024. Only 3 losses and 25 goals allowed all year, and Surridge got his 20th and 21st today. Can anybody stop them in the playoffs? https://t.co/P59EuQmxiN