Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has been awarded the MLS Golden Boot for the second year in a row after scoring 26 goals during the 2026 regular season, extending his prolific scoring record for Inter Miami as the club prepares to defend its MLS Cup title.
Messi did not score in Inter Miami’s final regular-season match against Charlotte FC on Saturday, which ended in a 3-3 draw. Miami held a 3-0 lead at home before Charlotte staged a comeback to earn a point. Despite the result, Messi finished well ahead of his nearest rivals in the goalscoring standings.
FC Dallas forward Petar Musa finished second with 22 goals, followed by Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge with 21 and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White with 20. Messi netted 29 goals last season, the fourth-highest total in a single MLS campaign, and this latest achievement makes him the first player in league history to win consecutive Golden Boot awards.
Inter Miami CF tweeted, “Not a repeat. A reminder. Back-to-back Golden Boot winner. Congratulations, Leo! ”
Messi has been central to Inter Miami’s offensive strength this season. The club scored a league-high 80 goals during the regular season, with Messi contributing nearly a third of that total. In addition to his goals, he provided 17 assists, one fewer than league leader Pep Biel, and played 2,664 minutes, highlighting his key role.
He attempted 183 shots, the highest number in the league, followed by Philadelphia Union’s Milan Iloski with 122. Messi’s 76 shots on target were 25 more than the next closest player, LAFC’s Denis Bouanga. A notable performance came in August when he scored four goals in Inter Miami’s 7-1 win over Montreal.
Inter Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville SC and will begin their MLS Cup playoff campaign against seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series. No team has successfully defended the MLS Cup since LA Galaxy did so in 2011 and 2012.
On the individual front, Messi is also a contender for the MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for a third consecutive season, having previously been the first player to win it in back-to-back years. The MVP is determined by votes from media representatives, players and club officials, with goalscoring among several criteria considered.
During 2026, Messi also had significant commitments outside club football. He helped Argentina reach the FIFA World Cup final, contributing to his fifth-place finish in the Ballon d’Or voting, before retiring from international football. He also endured the personal loss of his father.
At 39 years old, Messi continues to be a defining attacking force in Major League Soccer. His latest Golden Boot adds to an illustrious career as he seeks to maintain his scoring form in the playoffs while Inter Miami aims to secure back-to-back MLS Cup titles.