Lionel Messi Makes MLS History With Back-to-Back Golden Boot Awards After Scoring 26 Goals

November 8, 2026

New Delhi: Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has made history in Major League Soccer (MLS), winning the 2026 Golden Boot after scoring 26 goals throughout the regular season. The Argentinian star has now become the first player in league history to win the coveted award two years in a row.

Messi scored four more goals than FC Dallas striker Petar Musa (22 goals) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Brian White took third place with 20 goals.

This latest feat makes Messi just the sixth player in MLS history to win multiple Golden Boots.

Messi Scores 26 goals and 43 total contributions

The 39-year-old scored the most goals in the league in his fourth season for MLS, playing just 31 games during the regular season.

In addition to his impressive 26 goals, he also contributed 17 assists, giving him a total of 43 goal contributions. This was the third most in a single season in MLS history.

Messi also led the league with the highest goals per game ratio at 0.87, he tied for the most hat-tricks (6) and scored the second most goals per 90 minutes at an average of 0.91.

Messi had the most non-penalty goals in 2026

Throughout the 2026 season Messi showed how clinical he can be in front of goal.

Only one of his 26 goals came from the penalty spot, meaning he scored 25 non-penalty goals, the second most ever in a single season in MLS history.

The record is held by Messi after he scored 28 non-penalty goals in 2025.

After scoring 29 goals in 2025, Messi became only the second player in MLS history to score 25+ goals twice in a row.

Messi Scores 75 Goals in Last 3 Seasons

Messi has now scored 75 goals in the regular season in the past three seasons, the second most ever by any player in three seasons in MLS history.

He is also only the second player, along with Denis Bouanga (winner of the 2023 Golden Boot) to score 20+ goals in three seasons in a row.

Messi has been extremely influential this season, after contributing 43 goals in 2026, he becomes the first player in MLS history to contribute 40+ goals in two consecutive seasons.

Looking at his overall dominance throughout 2024-26, Messi has contributed 127 goals from goals and assists. This is 28 more than the next best total (Evander: 98 goals).

Another scoring title under his belt means that the Inter Miami captain has added another historic feat to his name, solidifying his status as one of the most influential attackers in MLS history.