Lionel Messi makes history with back-to-back MLS Golden Boot

The 39-year-old also recorded 17 assists, giving him a league-best 43 goal contributions for the second year running.

Messi becomes only the sixth player to win the award twice, joining the likes of Bradley Wright-Phillips.

🚨🇺🇸 OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi wins the MLS Golden Boot 2026 and becomes the first player ever to win it back to back. 👟✨ 2025 — 29 goals in 28 games 👟✨ 2026 — 26 goals in 31 games https://t.co/0nNCzSP9lb

Last season he claimed the Golden Boot with 29 goals.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is now also the frontrunner to become the first three-time Landon Donovan MLS MVP, having won the award in 2024 and 2025.

Despite Messi’s individual brilliance, Inter Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference, 17 points behind Nashville. They will face Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series when the MLS Cup playoffs begin later this month.

Messi retired from international football with Argentina earlier this year but continues to produce elite numbers in MLS, underlining his lasting impact at club level.