Lionel Messi added another important award to his legendary career on Friday, October 24, by winning the 2025 MLS Golden Boot.
Prior to the opening playoff match between Inter Miami and Nashville SC, MLS commissioner Don Garber presented Messi with the “Golden Boot” award, recognizing his league-leading 29 goals in 28 regular-season games.
The pre-match ceremony sparked chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi” among the home crowd at Chase Stadium.
But the Argentine soccer star wasn’t done yet. He immediately picked up where he left off in the regular season and, just 19 minutes into the match, scored a header that put Inter Miami ahead.
He wasn’t done, assisting on a Tadeo Allende header in the 62nd minute before sealing his night with a classic curling shot in the final minute of the match to complete a double.
The 3-1 win gives the No. 1 Herons an important 1-0 lead in their best-of-three playoff series as they chase the MLS Cup.
The Golden Boot marks the ninth scoring award of his career with 39 goals in all events this year in MLS.
His remarkable 29 goals and 19 assists in the regular season left him just one goal shy of the all-time MLS single-season record.
After scoring in three consecutive games, Messi has carried his prolific form into the postseason, indicating that his record-breaking season is far from over.
