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Messi claims back-to-back MLS Golden Boots with record 26-goal season

Lionel Messi has won the 2026 MLS Golden Boot after scoring a league-high 26 goals for Inter Miami, becoming the first player in league history to claim the award in consecutive seasons.

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Messi claims back-to-back MLS Golden Boots with record 26-goal season
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Lionel Messi has won the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player in league history to claim the award in back-to-back seasons after scoring a league-high 26 goals for Inter Miami this campaign.

The Argentine great edged out FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who finished second with 22 goals, and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, who scored 21, to secure the honour. Messi also contributed 17 assists, finishing the regular season with 43 goal contributions — the most in the league.

The achievement comes just months after Messi won the Silver Boot at the 2026 World Cup while leading Argentina to the final, before announcing his retirement from international football. He had posted 29 goals and 19 assists when he first claimed the MLS Golden Boot in 2025.

With the consecutive wins, Messi becomes the sixth two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman, and Preki.

The accolades may not stop there. Messi is in contention to become the first three-time winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, with finalists set to be announced later this week.

On the pitch, Messi and second-seeded Inter Miami now turn their attention to the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they face seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series.

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