Lionel Messi has become the first player to win Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot in consecutive seasons, after finishing the 2026 regular season as the league’s top scorer. MLS confirmed the record Saturday as the season’s final matches concluded.

The Inter Miami forward scored 26 goals across 31 matches, finishing ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who had 22, and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge with 21, according to the league. Messi scored 29 times in the 2025 regular season, giving him the award in back-to-back years.

A first for the league

The consecutive wins set a new MLS milestone. Reuters also reported that Messi is the first player to claim the league’s scoring title in successive seasons. The Golden Boot recognizes the player with the most regular-season goals.

Inter Miami finished the regular season second in the Eastern Conference and now turns to the MLS Cup playoffs, which begin Nov. 19. The club will try to build on a scoring campaign that again put its captain at the top of the league’s individual leaderboard.

Sources: Major League Soccer (official announcement); Reuters, via SABC News.