Source: @ LA De Recht Adiario
Lionel Messi has achieved another MLS milestone, but his latest Golden Boot comes amid a season in which Nashville SC has established itself as the league’s dominant team.
The Inter Miami forward finished the 2026 regular season with 26 goals, becoming the first player in MLS history to win consecutive Golden Boot awards. His achievement puts him in exclusive company, particularly given the scoring standards he has maintained since joining the American league.
Messi’s 2026 numbers make a compelling case for his individual dominance. He scored 26 goals in 31 appearances and supplied 17 assists, giving him 43 direct goal contributions. His average of 0.84 goals per game led the league, while just one of his goals came from the penalty spot.
FC Dallas striker Petar Musa finished second with 22 goals, while Nashville’s Sam Surridge claimed third place with 21.
Messi’s achievement also follows an extraordinary 2025 campaign in which he scored 29 regular-season goals. His 55 goals across the past two seasons rank among the highest two-year totals in MLS history.
At 39, his ability to maintain that level of attacking production puts him in a class of his own within the competition. His 2026 return also included six game-winning goals, underlining his contribution to Miami’s attacking output.
Nashville leaves Miami behind with record-breaking campaign
While Messi dominated the individual scoring charts, Nashville SC produced the strongest regular season in MLS history.
A 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Decision Day took Nashville to 77 points, surpassing Inter Miami’s previous record of 74, established in 2024. Nashville finished with 23 wins, eight draws and just three defeats.
Its defensive record deserves equal attention. Nashville conceded a league-low 25 goals and recorded 17 clean sheets. That defensive resilience, combined with an attack led by Surridge and Hany Mukhtar, provided the foundation for its record points haul.
The club also finished 13 points ahead of the next-best team in the Supporters’ Shield standings. Such a margin reflects a campaign in which Nashville consistently collected results without relying on one attacking player to rescue matches.
Miami, meanwhile, surrendered a three-goal advantage in a 3-3 draw against Charlotte. First-half goals from Ian Fray, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul appeared to have secured the victory.
Messi supplied the corners for Miami’s first two goals, but Charlotte responded through Liel Abada’s brace and Rodolfo Aloko’s 90th-minute equaliser. Messi struck the post during stoppage time as Miami came close to salvaging all three points.
The result left Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference on 60 points, two ahead of New England. Nashville claimed the top seed and will face either Orlando City or Cincinnati in the first playoff round.
Miami’s title defence begins against Columbus Crew.
