Did Messi Win the 2025 MLS Golden Boot?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Lionel Messi won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals.
- He also provided 19 assists this season.
- Messi is the first player to win the Golden Boot for Inter Miami.
- This achievement adds to his legacy as the most decorated footballer in history.
- The MLS Cup Playoffs are underway, with Miami as the No. 3 seed.
Nashville, Oct 19 (NationPress) Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi has claimed the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, scoring an impressive 29 goals to become the league's top scorer in his second complete season with the Herons.
Messi also recorded 19 assists, surpassing LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC's Sam Surridge, both of whom finished with 24 goals. This achievement marks Messi as Miami's inaugural Golden Boot recipient and the first Argentine to win the award since Valentín "Taty" Castellanos took it home with New York City FC in 2021.
The Argentine legend netted three goals and provided an assist during Saturday's 5-2 Decision Day triumph in Nashville, bringing his season total to 48 goal contributions (29 goals, 19 assists) – just shy of Carlos Vela's MLS record of 49 set in 2019.
Messi is now poised to be the first player in league history to win back-to-back MVP awards, following a remarkable 2024 season where Miami claimed the Supporters' Shield in record-breaking style.
As the Eastern Conference No. 3 seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs, Messi and Miami will face off against No. 6 Nashville in a Round One Best-of-3 Series. The champion of this year's MLS Cup is set to be revealed on December 6.
Adding the MLS Golden Boot to his illustrious career, Messi solidifies his status as the most decorated footballer in history. He joins an elite club of players who have received this honor since the league's inception in 1996.
From 1996 to 2004, the MLS Golden Boot was determined by a points system that awarded two points for a goal and one for an assist, before transitioning to a system that counts only goals.
Earlier this week, Messi became the all-time leader in assists in men’s international football, setting up two goals during Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico in a friendly at Chase Stadium.
His two assists increased his international total to 60, surpassing Neymar and Landon Donovan, who each have 58. With this milestone, Messi is now merely three assists away from reaching 400 throughout his professional career.