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Lionel Messi has cemented his legacy in the United States by becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. The Inter Miami forward finished the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season with 26 goals, proving he remains in a class of his own at 39 years old.
Messi secures historic consecutive Golden Boot awards
Messi has rewritten the history books by becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. The Inter Miami forward finished the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season with a league-high 26 goals to his name.
The 39-year-old achieved this remarkable scoring feat across 31 appearances, which included 29 starts for his club. He ultimately finished four goals clear of his nearest challenger, FC Dallas forward Petar Musa, while Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge took third place with 21 goals.
Messi is now just the sixth player to finish with the most goals in multiple MLS regular seasons. His prolific form also included 17 assists, giving him an astonishing league-high 43 goal contributions overall.
Inter Miami coach backs Messi for MVP
The legendary forward previously won the Golden Boot in 2025 after scoring 29 goals in just 28 regular-season matches. Having already claimed the prestigious MVP award in 2024 and 2025, he remains the heavy favourite to win the trophy again in 2026.
If successful, the recently retired Argentina international will become the first three-time MVP winner in MLS history. Inter Miami head coach Kily Gonzalez firmly believes his star player is fully deserving of the historic accolade.
- Yosua Arya
