Inter Miami Star Lionel Messi wins 2025 MLS Golden Boot

Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi has added another major accolade to his extraordinary career, securing the 2025 MLS Golden Boot after leading the league with 29 goals in his second full season with the club.

The Argentine great clinched the scoring title after tallying three goals and one assist in Miami's 5-2 Decision Day victory over Nashville SC on Saturday.

Messi finished ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, who both ended the season with 24 goals. The achievement marks the first-ever Golden Boot for an Inter Miami player and the first for an Argentine since Valentín "Taty" Castellanos in 2021.

Record-Breaking Season Sets Stage for Playoffs

Messi's offensive dominance extended beyond just goals, as he also contributed 19 assists, giving him a total of 48 goal contributions for the season. This tally is just shy of Carlos Vela's all-time MLS record of 49, set in 2019.

Following a historic 2024 campaign that saw Miami win the Supporters' Shield, Messi now appears poised to become the first player in MLS history to win consecutive MVP awards.

The newly crowned Golden Boot winner and Inter Miami CF now head into the MLS Cup Playoffs as the Eastern Conference No. 3 seed. They will face the No. 6 seed Nashville SC in a Round One Best-of-3 Series. The MLS Cup champion is set to be crowned on December 6.

International Milestones Also Reached

In addition to his domestic triumph, the most decorated footballer of all time also achieved a major milestone on the international stage this week.

Earlier, Messi became the men’s international football leader in assists after setting up two goals in Argentina’s 6-0 rout of Puerto Rico in a friendly at Chase Stadium. His pair of assists raised his international total to 60, surpassing the previous record of 58 held by Neymar and Landon Donovan.

With this latest career achievement, Messi now stands just three assists short of 400 across his professional career.