Lionel Messi has become the first player to win Major League Soccer's Golden Boot in consecutive seasons, finishing the 2026 regular season with 26 goals in 31 matches for Inter Miami, Sportstar reported on Sunday, citing Reuters.
FC Dallas forward Petar Musa was second with 22 goals and Nashville SC's Sam Surridge third with 21.
Messi did not score in Miami's last regular-season game on Saturday, a 3-3 draw with Charlotte FC in which Miami let slip a 3-0 lead, according to an ANI report carried by The Tribune.
More than goals
Messi also made 17 assists, one behind league leader Pep Biel, The Tribune reported. He took 183 shots, the most in the league, and 76 of them were on target. Inter Miami scored a league-high 80 goals, nearly a third of them his.
Last season he scored 29 goals, which The Tribune reported as the fourth-highest tally in a single MLS season.
Background
Messi joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and has since helped the club win four trophies, including its first MLS Cup last season. He retired from international football earlier this year after 21 years with Argentina, and in October signed a contract extension with Miami that runs until 2028.
What next
Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville SC. The MLS Cup playoffs begin on November 19, and Miami open their title defence against seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series, according to The Tribune.
No team has retained the MLS Cup since LA Galaxy did it in 2011 and 2012. Messi is also in contention for a third consecutive MVP award.