History rewritten! Messi pulls off an MLS feat nobody had ever achieved
Lionel Messi has made MLS history once again, achieving something no player had ever managed before.
Details: Major League Soccer has officially confirmed that the Inter Miami forward has won the 2026 Golden Boot after scoring 26 goals in 31 regular-season appearances. The Argentine has claimed the award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first footballer in MLS history to achieve this remarkable feat. In 2025, Messi scored an impressive 29 goals in just 28 matches.
The final standings underline Messi's dominance. FC Dallas striker Petar Musa finished second with 22 goals, while Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge completed the top three with 21. The Inter Miami captain therefore finished four goals ahead of his closest challenger.
Even more impressively, only one of Messi's 26 goals came from the penalty spot. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also registered 17 assists, bringing his total to an incredible 43 direct goal contributions during the 2026 regular season.
It is worth noting that Messi is only the sixth player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot more than once. Across the last two regular seasons, the Argentine has scored 55 goals, with only Josef Martínez managing a higher two-season total in league history, scoring 58 between 2018 and 2019.
Reminder: A trendsetter? Messi shows off a personalized bag PSG fans won't appreciate!
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
