Lionel Messi has done the impossible again. The 39-year-old forward became the first player in league history to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. He finished the 2026 regular season with 26 goals, the highest total in the entire league. This feat puts him ahead of FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, who scored 22 times. Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge took third place with 21 goals. Messi did not score in his final game on Saturday, as his team lost a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Charlotte FC. Even without a goal in that match, he finished four clear of his nearest rival.
The numbers show just how dominant his season was. According to ESPN, Messi played 31 games with 29 starts. He also added 17 assists, bringing his total goal contributions to a league-high 43. This follows his 2025 campaign where he scored 29 goals and earned the MVP award. He also won the trophy in 2024, his first full season with Miami. If the league votes him MVP again this year, he will become the first three-time winner in history. Miami coach Cristian “Kily” González has strong feelings about the forward’s status.
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A Legacy Beyond the Stats
Messi’s impact goes far beyond just putting the ball in the net. His coach believes his behavior sets a standard no one else can match. The coach pointed out that other players simply do not measure up in terms of character. “None of them can compare to him when it comes to respect for his colleagues,” González added. He argued that at Messi’s age, the combination of his skill and his work ethic means he deserves both the MVP trophy and the Ballon d’Or.
Miami’s season was defined by this leadership. Securing 60 points, the team placed second in the Eastern Conference. This result clinched a playoff spot and a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup for the fourth year in a row. They will host the seventh-seeded Columbus Crew in a best-of-three first-round series. While Miami set a high bar, they were not the only ones breaking records on Saturday. Nashville SC surpassed them to claim the single-season points record. Nashville ended with 77 points, breaking the 74-point mark Miami set in 2024.
The Race for the Record
Nashville’s victory was a team effort that capped off a historic run. Sam Surridge, the team’s top scorer, netted his 20th and 21st goals in the second half to secure a 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati. Surridge recognized the weight of the moment after the final whistle. “It’s a massive achievement for the club, for us as players, and yeah, it’s going to go down in history, and I think that was the message before the game” Surridge said. The team managed to keep their focus even after winning earlier titles. “It’s hard to kind of keep the momentum going all season when you win something and then to go again. But we had that motivation to create history.” Surridge added.
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Nashville finished the season with 23 wins and only three losses. They also set marks for fewest goals allowed and most home wins. Entering the playoffs, the club currently enjoys a 10-game unbeaten run. They secured the Supporters’ Shield two weeks ago as the team with the best regular-season record. While Miami fights for the championship, they face a steep climb against a Nashville squad that set new standards for consistency. Messi’s individual brilliance secured his place in the history books, but the battle for the league title remains wide open for the next few weeks. Against seventh-seeded Columbus Crew, Miami holds home advantage in its best-of-three first-round playoff series.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
