Lionel Messi writes MLS history! The Inter Miami superstar became the first player to win back-to-back Golden Boots

Inter Miami CF striker Lionel Messi (Image: REUTERS) Lionel Messi continues to rewrite the Major League Soccer record books, with the Inter Miami captain becoming the first player in league history to win the Golden Boot in back-to-back seasons. At 39 years old, the Argentine superstar showed no signs of slowing down and finished the 2026 regular season with 26 goals for his second straight scoring record.Messi finished four goals ahead of FC Dallas forward Petar Musa, who managed 22, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Brian White took third with 20 goals. The latest honor makes Messi only the sixth player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot multiple times.

Messi’s incredible scoring numbers propel the Inter Miami captain to yet another golden boot

In his fourth MLS season, Messi topped the scoring charts despite appearing in just 31 games in the regular season. His 26 goals were accompanied by 17 assists, bringing his goal total to 43 — the third most in a single MLS season.The Argentine also led the league in goals per game with an average of 0.87 and tied for first in multi-goal performances with six. He ranked second in goals per 90 minutes with an impressive average of 0.91.One of the most striking aspects of Messi’s campaign has been his productivity from open play. Only one of his 26 goals came from the penalty spot, leaving him with 25 clean sheets – the second most in a single season in MLS history. The record belongs to Messi himself, who scored 28 non-penalty goals in 2025.

After back-to-back 25-goal seasons, Messi has joined elite MLS company

Messi’s latest Golden Boot further extended his remarkable consistency in front of goal. After scoring 29 times in the 2025 regular season, he became only the second player in MLS history to score at least 25 goals in consecutive campaigns.His dominance was just as impressive for extended periods of time. Messi has scored 75 regular-season goals in the past three campaigns, the second-most by any player over three seasons in MLS history.He is also only the second player, alongside 2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive regular seasons.

Messi’s 43 goal assists set another MLS milestone

While his goals grabbed the headlines, Messi’s creative influence was just as significant. His 43 goal assists in 2026 made him the first player in MLS history to record at least 40 goal assists in consecutive seasons.His 2024-2026 numbers underscore the extent of his influence. Messi amassed 127 goal contributions over those three seasons, including goals and assists. That’s 28 more than Evander’s next best of 98 over the same period.