Lionel Messi continues to elevate his impact on American soccer. Just three days after leading Inter Miami to its first MLS Cup title — and earning MVP honors in the final — the 38-year-old Argentine star made history once again by being named the league’s Most Valuable Player for the second straight season. No player had ever achieved back-to-back MVP awards in MLS history until now.
Messi’s victory came as no surprise. He comfortably outshined fellow finalists Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati) and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC). His regular-season performance was dominant from start to finish, posting 48 goal contributions — 29 goals and 19 assists — across 28 matches. It stands as the second-highest total ever recorded in a single MLS season and includes a league record of nine matches with at least three goal contributions.
He is also the only player in league history to reach 36 or more goal contributions in multiple seasons (2024 and 2025). Additionally, Messi became just the second player to lead MLS in both goals and assists in the same year, joining Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco, who achieved the feat in 2015.
Messi’s excellence carried into the playoffs, where the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner set another milestone with 15 goal contributions — six goals and nine assists — in only six postseason matches.
The award presentation took place on a drizzly Tuesday morning at Chase Stadium. MLS Commissioner Don Garber flew in from New York to personally hand Messi the MVP trophy during the opening ceremony of the Messi Cup, a new international U16 tournament launched by the player’s own company.
