Messi Makes MLS History With Back-To-Back Golden Boots
Argentine Superstar Becomes First Player To Win Award In Consecutive Seasons With 26 Goals And 17 Assists
Lionel Messi has become the first player in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to win consecutive Golden Boot awards after finishing the 2026 regular season as the league’s leading scorer with 26 goals.
The Inter Miami forward achieved the feat after scoring 26 goals in 31 appearances, including 29 starts, to become the first player to claim the award in successive seasons.
The 39-year-old Argentine, who retired from international football last month, also provided 17 assists to finish the regular season with a league-high 43 goal contributions.
Messi finished four goals ahead of his closest challenger, FC Dallas’ Croatian striker Petar Musa, while Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge came third with 21 goals.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had also claimed the Golden Boot in 2025 after scoring 29 goals in 28 regular-season appearances, finishing ahead of Denis Bouanga and Surridge, who both scored 24 goals.
His latest achievement makes him only the sixth player to finish as MLS regular-season top scorer more than once.
Messi’s goals and assists helped Inter Miami finish second in the Eastern Conference with 60 points, securing home advantage for their best-of-three first-round playoff series against seventh-seeded Columbus Crew.
Miami will also feature in the Concacaf Champions Cup for the fourth consecutive time.
Messi is now chasing another piece of history, with the Argentine favourite to win the 2026 MLS Most Valuable Player award.
Having won the honour in 2024 and 2025, he would become the first player to claim the MLS MVP award three times if successful.
