In a feat that further cements his legendary status, Lionel Messi has been crowned the Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, an achievement never before witnessed in the history of the league. The announcement, made on Tuesday by MLS authorities, follows a campaign in which the 38-year-old Argentine maestro led Inter Miami to the league title and finished as the top scorer.
Messi’s influence throughout the season was both immense and undeniable. His 29 goals not only powered Miami’s title charge but also earned him the distinction of having the fourth-highest single-season goal tally in MLS history. Alongside his goal-scoring brilliance, the forward provided 19 assists—enough to secure the prestigious Golden Boot for combined goals and assists.
This latest accolade allows Messi to rewrite MLS history yet again:
He becomes the first footballer ever to win back-to-back MVP awards in the league.
He joins Predrag Radosavljević as only the second player to win two MVP titles overall, the latter having achieved the honour in 1997 and 2003.
Speaking after receiving the award, Messi expressed both pride and humility:
“I am delighted to win this award again, especially as the first player to do so in consecutive years. Individual honours are always special, but I share this with my team-mates—they make everything possible.”
His dominance extended well beyond the regular season. In the MLS play-offs, Messi scored six goals and delivered nine assists, once again placing himself at the heart of Miami’s success. During the final against Vancouver, he created two goals to secure a 3–1 victory and was duly named MLS Cup Final MVP.
Only one other player—Sebastián Giovinco in 2015—had previously topped the league in both goals and assists in the same season, making Messi’s achievement all the more remarkable.
Despite his growing list of accomplishments, Messi continues to reach greater heights. Having renewed his contract with Inter Miami for three additional years in October, he added another chapter to a career already decorated with eight Ballon d’Or titles, three FIFA Best Men’s Player awards, and two World Cup Golden Balls.
Voting Breakdown for 2025 MLS MVP
| Voting Group | Percentage for Messi |
|---|---|
| Media | 83.05% |
| Clubs | 73.08% |
| Players | 55.17% |
| Total Vote Share | 70.43% |
| Runner-up (Anders Dreyer, San Diego FC) | 11.15% |
Messi also shattered another league record by registering 10 multi-goal matches in a single season—surpassing the previous record of eight, jointly held by Stern John, Mamadou Diallo, and Zlatan Ibrahimović.
His first MLS MVP title came in 2024, when he scored 20 goals and made 16 assists in just 19 appearances. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, he has already delivered the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and now back-to-back MVP trophies.
With his latest accolade, Lionel Messi’s American chapter continues to unfold like a footballing fairy tale—one that shows no signs of concluding anytime soon.