Lionel Messi has written another line in the Major League Soccer record book. The Inter Miami captain finished the 2026 regular season with 26 goals to win the MLS Golden Boot for a second straight year, becoming the first player in the league’s history to claim the scoring award in back-to-back seasons.
The honour was confirmed on Decision Day, the final day of the regular season, when every club in the league played at the same time. Messi did not score in Miami’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Charlotte FC, but his tally of 26 goals still left him four clear of his nearest rival, and the record was his.
FAKTA
- Award: 2026 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi
- Winner: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF — 26 goals
- Assists: 17, giving him a league-best 43 goal contributions
- Runner-up: Petar Musa, FC Dallas, 22 goals; Sam Surridge, Nashville SC, 21 goals
- Decided: Decision Day, Saturday 7 November 2026
- Final match: Inter Miami 3-3 Charlotte FC at Nu Stadium
- Playoffs: Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference and face Columbus Crew in a best-of-three Round One series
Decision Day Drama at Nu Stadium
Messi’s Golden Boot was sealed on a night of chaos in Miami. The defending champions raced into a 3-0 lead before half-time, with Messi setting up the first two goals from corners. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 14th minute after a Messi corner caused trouble in the Charlotte box, and Luis Suarez doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, heading home another Messi delivery at the near post. Rodrigo De Paul added the third before the break.
Charlotte refused to fold. Liel Abada struck twice soon after the restart, and Rodolfo Aloko completed the comeback with a stoppage-time equaliser to make it 3-3. Messi almost won it at the death, but his late shot struck the post, and Aloko came inches from snatching a winner for the visitors with a fierce strike that flew into the side netting.
The draw was still enough for Miami. Second place in the Eastern Conference gives the defending champions home advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs, and they will meet the Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series.
A Record No One Else Owns
Messi is the first player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons. He is only the sixth player to win the award twice, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman and Preki — but none of them ever defended it the following year.
His 2026 tally of 26 goals fell short of the 29 he scored in 2025, when he also provided 19 assists on his way to a first Golden Boot. The highlight of this season came in August, when he scored four times in a 7-1 win over Montreal. Across the campaign he also added 17 assists, leaving him with 43 goal contributions — the best total in the league — while Miami finished as the highest-scoring side in MLS with 80 goals.
FC Dallas striker Petar Musa finished second in the race with 22 goals after failing to score in his side’s 3-1 win over Colorado, while Nashville striker Sam Surridge was third on 21.
What Comes Next
The Golden Boot is only the first prize of Messi’s autumn. He has already won the MLS Most Valuable Player award in 2024 and 2025, and he is now chasing a third straight MVP title — another first in league history.
Miami’s focus, though, turns to the playoffs. A best-of-three series against Columbus Crew stands between the defending champions and a deeper run, with home advantage in their favour after finishing second in the East.
Elsewhere on Decision Day, Nashville broke the all-time MLS points record for a season, reaching 77 points with a 2-0 win over Cincinnati. Vancouver finished second overall after beating Montreal 2-0, giving the Whitecaps a home edge should they meet Miami in a repeat of last season’s MLS Cup final.
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