Lionel Messi achieves MLS first, winning Golden Boot for second straight season
Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
Inter Miami forward edges out FC Dallas striker Peter Musa after 26-goal campaign
The Associated Press
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Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
The Inter Miami forward scored a league-high 26 goals this season. He also notched 17 assists and led the league with 43 goal contributions.
Messi edged out FC Dallas striker Peter Musa (22 goals) and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge (21 goals) to take home the award just months after winning the Silver Boot at the 2026 World Cup while leading Argentina to the final.
Messi became the sixth two-time MLS Golden Boot winner, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips, Chris Wondolowski, Jeff Cunningham, Taylor Twellman and Preki.
The Argentine great, who retired from the national team this year, had 29 goals and 19 assists when he won the MLS award in 2025.
Messi could be up for another accolade on Monday and become the first three-time winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. The award will be announced at 8 p.m. ET.
Messi and No. 2-seeded Miami face the No. 7-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Voted again to World XI by players
Messi's peers gave him one more appearance in the FIFPRO World XI lineup Monday after nearly 20,000 players voted for their best team in a poll organized by the global union.
At age 39, the Argentina icon was elected to the team as part a four-superstar attack alongside Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal. Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane missed out.
This is Messi's 18th year appearing in the XI and he was last chosen in 2023.
Messi was the only men's World XI selection playing for a club outside Europe. Paris Saint-Germain's Morocco right back Achraf Hakimi was the only other selection from a national team outside Europe.
FIFPRO World XI men's lineup
Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)
Defenders: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
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