Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 14th minute, Luis Suarez doubled the lead in the 33rd and Rodrigo De Paul made it 3-0 in the 42nd, according to the Associated Press. Messi did not score but set up the first two goals, both from corner kicks.
Charlotte hit back straight after the break. Liel Abada scored in the 50th and 55th minutes, and substitute Rodolfo Aloko completed the comeback in the 90th minute, putting away the rebound after Tyger Smalls hit the post, according to the Associated Press.
Messi finished the regular season with 26 goals, enough to make him the first player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot in back-to-back seasons, according to theScore. He finished four goals ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who scored 22 times.
The draw left the defending champions second in the Eastern Conference on 60 points, securing home-field advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs, according to theScore. Miami will face the Columbus Crew in the first round, a best-of-three series that begins on November 20.
Charlotte finished fifth in the East and will face Chicago in the first round of the playoffs, according to the reports. Nashville finished as the overall league leaders, breaking the all-time MLS points record with 77 after beating Cincinnati 2-0.
Sources: theScore; Associated Press (via TSN)