Messi Makes History with Second Straight MLS Golden Boot

Argentine star Lionel Messi has achieved a historic feat in Major League Soccer, becoming the first player to win the league's Golden Boot as top scorer in two consecutive seasons.

Messi, 39, finished the season with 26 goals, despite failing to score in Inter Miami's 3-3 draw with Charlotte FC on Saturday evening.

The Inter Miami captain topped the scoring charts by four goals over second-placed Petter Moussa and five goals over England's Sam Surridge, who finished third.

Messi's brilliance was not limited to scoring, as he provided 17 assists, raising his total goal contributions to 43, the highest figure in the league this season.

With this achievement, Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot twice, but the first to do so in consecutive seasons.

Despite his captain's outstanding individual numbers, Inter Miami finished the season second in the Eastern Conference, behind Nashville, led by striker Sam Surridge.

Inter Miami are set to face Columbus Crew in the first round of the playoffs, in a best-of-three series, as they seek to continue their bid to retain the league title they won last season.

Messi had won the MLS Most Valuable Player award in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first player to claim the honor in two consecutive seasons, and he also led Inter Miami to their first historic title by winning the Leagues Cup in 2023.

The Argentine star joined Inter Miami in July 2023, following his stint with France's Paris Saint-Germain, after spending more than 17 years with Spain's Barcelona, during which he won numerous titles, most notably the Champions League four times.

His move to the United States came after he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, before he extended his contract with Inter Miami in October 2025 until the end of the 2028 season.