Messi Wins Second Consecutive MLS Golden Boot
The Inter Miami forward became the first player to claim the league's top scoring honor in back-to-back seasons, adding to his recent World Cup success.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
Lionel Messi has made history in Major League Soccer by winning the 2026 Golden Boot, becoming the first player in the league's history to secure the award in consecutive seasons. The Inter Miami forward claimed the title after a remarkable campaign that included a league-high 26 goals. His performance also saw him record 17 assists, leading the league with a total of 43 goal contributions.
The Argentine star finished ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who tallied 22 goals, and Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge, who scored 21. This achievement arrives just months after Messi helped lead Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where he won the Silver Boot for his scoring efforts on the international stage.
With this latest honor, Messi joins an exclusive group of six players to win the MLS Golden Boot twice. He follows in the footsteps of Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman, and Preki. In the previous season, 2025, Messi had earned the same distinction with an even more prolific tally of 29 goals and 19 assists.
The 39-year-old legend, who announced his retirement from the national team this year, may soon add another major trophy to his collection. He is a contender for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, with the announcement scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Monday. If selected, he would become the first player to win the MVP award three times.
As the regular season concludes, Messi and the No. 2-seeded Inter Miami squad will begin their post-season run. They are set to face the No. 7-seeded Columbus Crew in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. The two teams will compete in a best-of-three series to determine which side advances in the tournament.
In a separate recognition of his elite status, Messi was once again named to the FIFPRO World XI team on Monday. This selection follows a poll in which nearly 20,000 players from around the world voted for their preferred best team. The global union of football players organized the vote to highlight the top performers of the year.
Messi was chosen as part of a star-studded forward line that included Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Lamine Yamal. Notably, Harry Kane, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, was not included in the final lineup. This marks the 18th year Messi has appeared in the World XI, with his last prior selection occurring in 2023.
His inclusion also made him the only men's World XI player representing a club outside of Europe. The only other selection from a national team outside Europe was Achraf Hakimi, the right back for Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team. The rest of the squad featured prominent European talents across all positions.
The full FIFPRO World XI men's lineup included David Raya in goal for Arsenal. The defensive line consisted of Pau Cubarsi from Barcelona, Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain, and Nuno Mendes from Paris Saint-Germain. In midfield, Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, Rodri from Manchester City and Barcelona, and Vitinha from Paris Saint-Germain were selected.
The attacking unit was led by the aforementioned stars, with Erling Haaland from Manchester City, Kylian Mbappe from Real Madrid, Lionel Messi from Inter Miami, and Lamine Yamal from Barcelona completing the forward quartet. This recognition underscores Messi's continued dominance in world football despite his age and his move to a club outside the traditional European powerhouses.
