Overview
- The league announced on Saturday that Lionel Messi finished the 2026 regular season as MLS top scorer with 26 goals in 31 appearances, making him the first player to win the Golden Boot in back-to-back seasons.
- Reports credited Messi with 17 assists for the campaign and he supplied an assist in Inter Miami’s 3-3 regular-season finale with Charlotte FC.
- Inter Miami finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will open the playoffs against the Columbus Crew in a best-of-three series starting in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Messi signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through 2028 in October and retired from international play earlier this year after a 21-year Argentina career.
- The consecutive Golden Boots underline Messi’s sustained impact in MLS after helping Miami win major trophies in recent seasons and raise questions about awards, legacy and how long he will remain the league’s dominant player.