Messi leads the MLS scoring chart again
Lionel Messi has won the 2026 Major League Soccer Golden Boot after scoring 26 goals for Inter Miami during the regular season. The league confirmed that the Argentine forward became the first player in MLS history to finish as the top scorer in consecutive seasons.
Why the milestone matters
The award recognises scoring across league regular-season matches, not playoff games. Messi finished ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who scored 22, and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge on 21. The 2026 campaign also saw Messi provide 17 assists, giving him 43 goal contributions according to the league.
The wider picture
Messi’s second straight Golden Boot adds to his impact since joining Inter Miami. The record refers specifically to the MLS scoring award; it does not establish the outcome of this year’s MLS Cup playoffs or the league’s individual MVP vote.
Sources
Read the original announcement or reporting. Information checked on 12 November 2026.
Photo credit
Real archive photograph of Lionel Messi (not a photo of this news event): Hossein Zohrevand / Tasnim News Agency / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. The image may be proportionally resized and cropped by the WordPress theme. No AI-generated image has been used.
