Lionel Messi won his second consecutive MLS Golden Boot award after scoring 26 goals in the regular season, becoming the first player to achieve the feat. The 39-year-old Argentine forward plays for Inter Miami, which finished second in the Eastern Conference with 60 points after a 3-3 draw against Charlotte on Saturday.
Messi did not score in the final match but recorded two assists from corners. Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul scored Inter Miami's first-half goals. Charlotte answered with two goals from Liel Abada and one from Rodolfo Aloko to draw level.
Petar Musa of Dallas finished second in scoring with 22 goals. Messi scored 29 goals last season, making him the second player in MLS history to record at least 25 goals in back-to-back years.
Nashville topped the Eastern Conference with 77 points after beating Cincinnati 2-0, breaking Miami's previous league record of 74 points set in 2024. Inter Miami qualified for the playoffs and will face Columbus in the first round beginning November 19. Messi recently signed a contract extension with Inter Miami through 2028 and retired from international football in 2024 after winning the World Cup.