Messi Wins Consecutive MLS Golden Boot Titles
Lionel Messi became the first player to claim the MLS Golden Boot in two straight seasons while Inter Miami fell short in the Eastern Conference.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Soccer
Lionel Messi scored 26 goals in 31 games to win the MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player to capture the award in two consecutive seasons. Inter Miami finished 17 points behind Nashville in the Eastern Conference but advances to the first stage of the MLS Cup playoffs against Columbus Crew.
Why it matters
Messi's back-to-back scoring titles underline his continued dominance in Major League Soccer at age 39. The result also highlights the gap between individual brilliance and team standings for Inter Miami, which must now win a playoff series to compete for the MLS Cup.
Messi scored 26 goals in 31 games and added 17 assists across all MLS competitions, totaling 43 goal contributions. He finished four goals ahead of Peter Musa, while Sam Surridge scored five goals in the same period.
The players
Lionel Messi
Argentine forward widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, who has won the Ballon d'Or eight times and the World Cup.
Inter Miami
Major League Soccer club based in Miami, Florida, co-owned by David Beckham and known for signing Messi in 2023.
The details
Messi claimed the Golden Boot for the second straight season, making him the first player in MLS history to do so. He also won the Landon Donovan MVP award in both 2024 and 2025, and Inter Miami captured the Supporters' Shield in 2024 and the MLS Cup in 2025.
Timeline
2024: Messi wins the Landon Donovan MVP award and Inter Miami wins the Supporters' Shield.
2025: Messi wins the Landon Donovan MVP award again and Inter Miami wins the MLS Cup.
Later this month: Inter Miami begins the three-game first stage of the MLS Cup playoffs against Columbus Crew.
Season Trajectory
Messi's consecutive Golden Boot and MVP awards extend a pattern of individual dominance that has defined Inter Miami's recent seasons, including their 2024 Supporters' Shield and 2025 MLS Cup. The team's 17-point deficit to Nashville in the Eastern Conference shows that Messi's personal output has not translated into regular-season standings success.
The playoff series against Columbus Crew will determine whether Inter Miami advances in the MLS Cup playoffs this month. Fantasy managers tracking Messi should note that his 43 goal contributions make him a central scoring option for the remaining postseason matches.
The takeaway
Messi's back-to-back scoring titles show that individual production can remain elite even as a team struggles in the standings. Readers following MLS should watch whether Inter Miami's playoff run can convert that personal form into team success.
What happens next
Inter Miami opens the first stage of the MLS Cup playoffs against Columbus Crew in a three-game series later this month.
Further reading
For more on the league's competitions, browse Soccer coverage across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BBC.
