Messi Breaks MLS Record, Wins Second Straight MVP Award

Lionel Messi won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award on Tuesday after leading Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

He became the first player in the League’s history to claim the award in back-to-back seasons.

The 38-year-old forward, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup crown, scored 29 goals in the regular season and set up 19 others to claim the MLS Golden Boot.

Messi, who signed a three-year contract extension with Miami in October, also became only the second player to lead the league in regular-season goals and assists, joining Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015.

Messi also netted six goals and assisted on nine others in this year’s MLS playoffs, which concluded last weekend with Inter Miami beating Vancouver 3-1 for its first MLS Cup title, Messi delivering two key assists in the triumph to claim MLS Cup MVP honors.

It’s the latest award in a trophy haul for the South American maestro that includes a record eight Ballon d’Or titles, three FIFA Men’s Best Player awards and two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls.

Messi has also captured three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards, six European Golden Shoes, six La Liga Best Player awards and has been named Argentina’s Footballer of the Year 15 times.

Messi is the second player to win the award twice, joining Preki (1997, 2003), and the fourth to claim MVP and the Golden Boot in the same season in the last decade.

He won with 70% of the total vote, which was split among media members, MLS players, and MLS club staff.

Messi captured 83% of the media vote, 55% of the player vote, and 73% of the club vote. Dreyer finished second with 11% of the total vote.