Lionel Messi finished the 2025 MLS regular season as the league’s biggest name. The Argentine star won the Golden Boot with 29 goals in 28 matches, finishing ahead of Denis Bouanga from LAFC and Sam Surridge from Nashville, both with 24. Beyond the top scorer title, he became the only player in history to win the Golden Boot in both Europe and MLS. At 38 years old, Inter Miami’s No. 10 proved he can still dominate any competition. His consistent performances, decisive games, and record-breaking numbers once again placed his name among the great moments in sports.
Messi and a record-setting season
Messi had a year full of staggering numbers. He scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists, totaling 48 direct goal contributions — the second-highest in a single MLS season, behind only Carlos Vela in 2019. The remarkable detail is that 28 of those goals came from open play, without a single penalty, something never seen before in league history. He also became the first player ever to record 10 multi-goal games in a single season and the first to do it in five consecutive matches. That streak, between May 28 and July 12, produced 10 goals and showed that the Argentine forward still has the same killer instinct.
The numbers reveal more than a good run of form. They show an athlete who still dictates the tempo and influences almost every game he plays. Since February, when he assisted Inter Miami’s first goal of the season against New York City FC, Messi has been the focal point of everything. In April, after scoring against Toronto FC, he surpassed Gonzalo Higuaín to become the club’s all-time leader in goal contributions. By August, after scoring against LA Galaxy, he became the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 career goals, doing it in just 44 games. Every week brought another milestone, as if breaking records had become part of his routine.
Records, impact and legacy
Messi also became the first Inter Miami player to win the Golden Boot since the club was founded in 2018. He joined an elite group, since 2005, only three players have scored at least 29 goals in a Golden Boot-winning season: Josef Martínez (31 in 2018), Carlos Vela (34 in 2019), and now Messi. His 1.03 goals-per-game average is the second-highest among Golden Boot winners in that span.
Along with his scoring title, the Argentine also led the league in assists with 19, matching the achievement of Sebastian Giovinco in 2015, when the Canadian topped both goals and assists charts. In practice, Messi was the most complete player of the season. He finished plays, created chances, and kept Inter Miami among the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference.