Lionel Messi clinches 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals

When Lionel Andrés Messi, forward of Inter Miami CF, captured the Golden Boot on October 19, 2025, the soccer world took notice. The award, presented by Audi of America, honored Messi’s league‑leading 29 goals and 19 assists. The announcement came from Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer, at the league’s New York City headquarters.

Background: Messi’s MLS journey

Since his surprise move to South Florida in 2023, Messi has turned Inter Miami into a marquee destination. In his first partial season he netted 11 goals, but it was the 2025 campaign that truly cemented his MLS legacy. The season kicked off on February 21, 2025, and wrapped up on October 19, 2025, with Inter Miami finishing third in the Eastern Conference (22‑8‑4). Over 34 regular‑season matches, Messi scored in nine multi‑goal outings – a league record that eclipsed the previous high of eight set by Josef Martínez in 2018.

His tally of 29 goals sits just two shy of Martínez’s all‑time single‑season best of 31, making it the third‑highest total ever recorded. Only Chris Wondolowski’s 27‑goal haul in a 34‑game season (2012) trails him in the modern era. Those numbers aren’t just stats; they translate to a 0.85 goals‑per‑game average, the best of any player who completed a full MLS season since 2015.

The Golden Boot race and award ceremony

Messi entered the final stretch in early September with 22 goals, already outpacing LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, both sitting at 24. He sealed the lead with a hat‑trick against Nashville on September 28, a performance replayed on league highlight reels the next day. The official award ceremony is set for October 22 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Garber will hand over a Tiffany & Co‑crafted trophy and a $50,000 cash prize.

“Messi’s impact on Major League Soccer has been transformative, and his 2025 Golden Boot victory with 29 goals demonstrates why he remains the standard‑bearer for excellence in world football,” Garber said at the press conference. The trophy will travel with Messi until the MLS Cup final on December 7 at Providence Park in Portland.

In addition to the cash, the champion receives a custom Audi e‑tron GT quattro worth $139,900, a nod to the league’s title sponsor. Audi of America, headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, emphasized the partnership as “a celebration of performance on the field and on the road.”

Reactions from club leadership and league officials

Jorge Mas, owner of Inter Miami and chairman of MasTec, released a statement: “This Golden Boot award is a testament to Leo’s extraordinary talent and work ethic. He has elevated not just our club but the entire league during his tenure in MLS.”

MLS Digital Managing Director Justin Andrews highlighted the historical significance: “Messi’s 29 goals represent the third‑highest single‑season total in MLS history, trailing only Martínez’s 31 and Wondolowski’s 27. It’s a milestone that will be referenced for years to come.”

Statistically, Messi converted 8 of 12 penalty attempts and contributed 19 assists – the most by any player in a single MLS season since the league expanded to 34 games. His involvement accounted for roughly 40% of Inter Miami’s total 73 goals.

Impact on the league and the upcoming playoffs

Messi’s Golden Boot run has boosted MLS viewership by an estimated 12% in the final two months, according to Nielsen data released in early November. Ticket sales for Inter Miami’s home matches rose by 18% compared to the same period in 2024, and merchandise revenue jumped $4.2 million after the award announcement.

With the playoffs looming, Inter Miami faces a challenging bracket. The club opens the postseason on October 26 against the New England Revolution, a match that will test whether Messi can translate regular‑season dominance into postseason success. Analysts from ESPN’s soccer desk note that “Messi’s clutch factor in playoffs is untested in MLS, but his experience in World Cup knockouts could be decisive.”

The Golden Boot victory also fuels speculation about Messi’s future in the United States. While his contract runs through 2026, the league’s expansion‑grant model and increasing salary cap flexibility suggest that Miami could retain him beyond his current deal, keeping the spotlight on MLS for years to come.

What comes next for MLS and its star players?

Beyond Miami, the league is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup qualification window, where several MLS‑based internationals will play pivotal roles. The MLS Players Association is also negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement that could see higher minimum salaries and expanded revenue‑share, partially driven by the marketability that Messi brings.

Meanwhile, the league’s next individual honor – the 2025 MLS MVP – will be awarded in early December, with Messi, LAFC’s star forward Brian Rogers, and Nashville’s midfielder Aníbal Tolosa all in the conversation. Regardless of the outcome, Messi’s Golden Boot win has already reshaped the narrative around MLS as a destination for world‑class talent.