Lionel Messi added to his accolades by winning the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer for the 2026 season. The Inter Miami forward led most of the campaign and finished with 26 goals in 31 appearances, four ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa.
Messi scored 29 goals in 28 matches last season, when the runner-up finished with 24. With this repeat, he becomes the sixth player in the league’s three-decade history to win the award more than once, and the first to secure it in consecutive seasons.
The Argentina captain also paced several other metrics, recording 0.84 goals per game and 43 goal contributions. He logged six multi-goal outings, and only one of his strikes this year came from the penalty spot.
His 25 non-penalty goals are the second-highest single-season mark in MLS history, trailing only his 28 from last year. He is also considered the frontrunner for the league MVP, which would be his third in a row.
MLS Golden Boot in context
Messi joins a select group of multiple-time winners:
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Preki, Kansas City Wizards (1997, 2003)
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Taylor Twellman, New England Revolution (2002, 2005)
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Jeff Cunningham, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas (2006, 2009)
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Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls (2014, 2016)
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Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes (2010, 2012)
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Lionel Messi, Inter Miami (2025, 2026)
The Inter Miami forward led most of the campaign and finished with 26 goals in 31 appearances, four ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. Messi is also considered the frontrunner for the league MVP, which would be his third in a row, mirroring dominance seen in other sports like the 2026 NFL DROY odds.
Major League Soccer, governed by MLS, has now seen six players win the Golden Boot multiple times. Inter Miami, backed by co-owner David Beckham, has become one of the league’s marquee franchises and a focal point for Inter Miami CF supporters worldwide.
As Messi extends his record with 25 non-penalty goals, he continues to elevate the profile of the league. The Argentine star, still captain of the Argentina national team, remains central to discussions about the greatest players in football history.