
Lionel Messi has won the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player in league history to claim the award in consecutive seasons.
The Inter Miami forward scored a league-high 26 goals during the regular season. He also provided 17 assists, recording a league-leading 43 goal contributions.
Messi finished ahead of FC Dallas forward Petar Musa, who scored 22 goals, and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge, who netted 21.
The achievement comes just months after Messi won the Silver Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he led Argentina to the final.
Messi has become the sixth player to win the MLS Golden Boot twice, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman and Preki.
The Argentine forward previously claimed the award in 2025, finishing that season with 29 goals and 19 assists.
Messi could add another individual honour on Monday night, when the winner of the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award is announced at 8 pm Eastern Time. Having won the award in 2024 and 2025, he is in contention to become its first three-time winner.
Inter Miami, seeded second, will face seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.