QUICK TAKE | Lionel Messi Won Back-to-Back MLS Golden Boots. Why Is That a First? Seven Things to Know

1. What record did Lionel Messi set?

The 39-year-old became the first player in Major League Soccer history to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons. He scored 26 regular-season goals in 2026 after winning with 29 in 2025. He is the sixth player to win the award more than once.

2. How close was the scoring race?

FC Dallas forward Petar Musa finished second with 22 goals. Nashville’s Sam Surridge had 21 and Vancouver’s Brian White had 20. Messi stayed four clear even though he went scoreless in Miami’s final regular-season game, a 3–3 draw with Charlotte FC.

3. How much of Miami’s attack ran through him?

Messi scored 26 of Miami’s 80 league goals and assisted another 17. That gives him a direct hand in 43 goals, or nearly 54% of the team’s total. He finished just one assist behind league leader Pep Biel.

4. How often did he shoot?

Messi took 183 shots, 61 more than the next player, Philadelphia Union’s Milan Iloski. He put 76 on target, 25 more than LAFC’s Denis Bouanga. His biggest haul came in August, when he scored four in Miami’s 7–1 win over Montréal.

5. Is Messi in line for a third straight MVP award?

He is in contention. The Golden Boot goes to the regular season’s top scorer. The MVP is decided by a vote of players, club personnel and media representatives. Messi already became the first player to win that award in successive seasons.

6. Who stands between Miami and the next round?

Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference behind Nashville and will face seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three series. As the higher seed, Miami host the opener and would also host a deciding third match if needed.

7. When did an MLS champion last retain the title?

LA Galaxy won consecutive MLS Cups in 2011 and 2012. Miami enter the playoffs as defending champions with a chance to become the first club since then to repeat.