Lionel Messi has become the first player to win the Major League Soccer Golden Boot award in consecutive seasons. The 39-year-old Argentinian scored 26 goals in 31 games during the regular season for Inter Miami, finishing four goals ahead of the second-place scorer, Petar Musa of FC Dallas.
Historic Back-to-Back Achievement
Messi secured the Golden Boot for a second straight year, a feat no player had previously accomplished in the league’s history. He is the sixth player overall to win the award twice, but the first to do so in back-to-back seasons. In the previous campaign, Messi had set a personal best with 29 goals for Miami. Er ist der sechste Spieler in der Geschichte der MLS, der zweimal Torschützenkönig wurde – aber der erste, dem das in aufeinanderfolgenden Spielzeiten gelang
, the report from Südtirol News states.
Messi Sets Goal Involvement Record
His performance this season also set a new league record for goal involvements. Messi amassed 17 assists to go with his 26 goals, totaling 43 goal contributions. This surpasses the previous benchmark for the most goal involvements in a single MLS season. Despite his individual success, Inter Miami finished second in the Eastern Conference. The team will begin its playoff campaign on November 19 against Columbus Crew. Nashville SC clinched the top spot in the conference by setting a new league record with 77 points, surpassing Inter Miami’s previous record of 74 points from the 2024 season.
Messi Extends Contract with Inter Miami
This Golden Boot win comes after Messi ended his career with the national team. He has, however, extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028. The Südtirol News report notes that Der achtmalige Gewinner des Ballon d’Or ist zudem Favorit auf die Auszeichnung zum wertvollsten Spieler der Saison
, suggesting he is in line to claim a third MVP award.
Playoff Contenders
In the playoffs, the Tiroler David Schnegg is also representing with Charlotte FC after finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. The 28-year-old left-back was substituted in during the 69th minute of Charlotte’s 3-3 draw against Inter Miami. For Hannes Wolf, the season with New York City is over after the team finished eleventh in the Eastern Conference. Nashville SC, which holds the top spot, will face the winner of a play-in match between Orlando and Cincinnati.
Keep reading
