The 39-year-old scored 26 times in 31 appearances, starting 29 matches during the campaign. His achievement also places him among a select group of players to have finished as the MLS top scorer in multiple seasons. He is the sixth player in the league’s history to accomplish that feat.
Messi finished four goals ahead of his closest challenger, FC Dallas’ Croatian forward Petar Musa, who scored 22 times. Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge occupied third place in the scoring standings with 21 goals.
Although Messi enjoyed another outstanding individual campaign, he could not end the regular season with a goal in his final appearance. Inter Miami were held to a 3-3 draw by Charlotte FC on Saturday after surrendering a commanding three-goal advantage.
Miami made an impressive start to the encounter. In the 14th minute, Ian Fray opened the scoring by converting a corner delivered by Messi. The hosts doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute when Luis Suárez finished from close range after receiving a headed pass from Germán Berterame.
Rodrigo De Paul extended Miami’s lead three minutes before the interval, producing an excellent strike from outside the penalty area to make it 3-0. The hosts appeared firmly in control heading into half-time.
Charlotte, however, produced a determined response after the break. Liel Abada scored twice in quick succession, finding the net in the 50th and 55th minutes to reduce the deficit to a single goal.
The visitors continued to press for an equaliser and eventually completed their comeback in dramatic fashion. In the 90th minute, a shot from Tyger Smalls struck the post before Rodolfo Aloko reacted quickly to the rebound and sent the ball into the net. The late goal secured a 3-3 draw and denied Miami a winning finish to their regular-season campaign.
Despite the disappointing result, Inter Miami secured second place in the Eastern Conference with 60 points. Their overall performance earned them a fourth consecutive appearance in the MLS play-offs, while also securing qualification for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Messi’s latest Golden Boot triumph follows an equally impressive 2025 campaign. He scored 29 goals in just 28 appearances to finish as the league’s leading scorer, finishing ahead of Denis Bouanga and Sam Surridge.
His contribution extended well beyond goalscoring. The Argentine registered 19 assists during that season, finishing as the league’s leading provider as well. His remarkable all-round performances earned him the MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, recognising his influence on Inter Miami’s campaign.
He is once again among the leading contenders for the MVP honour in 2026. His ability to score goals, create opportunities and influence attacking play has continued to make him one of the competition’s most influential players. Even at 39, Messi remains central to Miami’s ambitions.
Meanwhile, Nashville SC established a new benchmark in the league’s regular-season history. They defeated FC Cincinnati 2-0 in another fixture to finish the campaign with 77 points.
That total surpassed the previous record of 74 points, set by Inter Miami in 2024. Nashville’s achievement marks a significant moment in MLS history, reflecting the consistency of their performances throughout the regular season.
Attention will now turn to the play-offs, where Inter Miami are scheduled to face seventh-placed Columbus Crew in the opening round. Under the competition’s format, the opening stage will be contested as a best-of-three series, with the first team to secure two victories advancing to the next round.
Miami’s second-place finish in the Eastern Conference provides an important advantage, giving the club home-ground privileges during the opening-round series.
For Messi, the challenge is now to translate another outstanding individual season into collective success. Having secured consecutive Golden Boots and helped Inter Miami qualify for the play-offs, the Argentine superstar will be looking to guide his team through the knockout stages and towards another MLS title.
