New Delhi, November 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has made Major League Soccer (MLS) history by winning the 2026 Golden Boot, becoming the first player to claim the award in consecutive seasons.
The 39-year-old Argentine finished the regular season with 26 goals in 31 appearances, four ahead of FC Dallas forward Petar Musa, who scored 22. Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Brian White finished third with 20 goals. Messi also became only the sixth player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot more than once.
Along with his goals, Messi registered 17 assists, taking his total goal contributions to 43 — the third-highest tally in a single MLS season. He led the league with 0.87 goals per game and shared the top spot for most multi-goal performances, with six.
Of his 26 goals, only one came from the penalty spot. His 25 non-penalty goals were the second-highest single-season tally in MLS history, behind his own record of 28 in 2025.
After scoring 29 goals last season, Messi became only the second player in MLS history to score at least 25 goals in consecutive regular seasons. He has netted 75 goals over the last three campaigns, the second-highest tally by any player across a three-season period. He is also only the second player, alongside 2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, to score at least 20 goals in three successive seasons.
Messi’s 43 goal contributions in 2026 also made him the first player in MLS history to record at least 40 in successive seasons. Between 2024 and 2026, he accumulated 127 goals and assists, 28 more than the next-best tally of 98 recorded by Evander.
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