Lionel Messi finished this year’s MLS regular season in style and won the Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 matches, ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge, both with 24 goals. The Argentine star not only achieved the feat of becoming the top scorer but also became the only player in history to win the Golden Boot in both Europe and MLS. The 38-year-old Messi has proven that he can still dominate any competition.
Messi has achieved remarkable feats this year, scoring 29 goals and providing 19 assists, for a total of 48 direct goal contributions, the second-most in a single MLS season behind Los Angeles FC’s Carlos Vela in 2019. The Argentine star also became the first player to score 10 multi-goal games in a single season and the first player to do it in five consecutive matches, setting him apart from the rest.
In April, Messi (44 goal contributions in 29 MLS matches) surpassed Gonzalo HiguaÃn (43 goal contributions in 67 MLS matches) to become the club’s all-time leading scorer after scoring against Toronto FC. In August, after scoring against LA Galaxy, the Inter Miami forward became the second-fastest player in MLS history to score 40 goals in just 44 games. His records set a new benchmark among athletes.
Also Read: Lionel Messi Sets New Career Milestone with Inter Miami
Messi became the first Inter Miami player to win the Golden Boot, a historic and memorable moment for the club. He also achieved another milestone, entering the elite group with only three players since 2005 to have scored at least 29 goals in a Golden Boot-winning MLS season: Josef Martinez (31 in 2018), Carlos Vela (34 in 2019), and Messi in 2025.