The Inter Miami star was the league’s leading goalscorer for the second straight season.
Despite a less-than-ideal conclusion to their 2026 MLS regular season, Inter Miami managed to extract a silver lining from their final home fixture, a thrilling 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC. This result allowed the team to maintain their standing as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, a position they had held entering the last matchday, preserving their advantageous spot for the upcoming MLS Playoffs.
Lionel Messi finished 2026 MLS season with 26 goals, six of which came from free-kicks
At the heart of Miami’s successful campaign was captain Lionel Messi, who once again demonstrated his exceptional scoring prowess by securing the MLS Golden Boot for the second consecutive year. Messi concluded the season as the league’s top goalscorer with an impressive tally of 26 goals. Notably, six of these goals were scored from free-kicks, underscoring his precision and deadly accuracy in set-piece situations.
Messi’s remarkable consistency and contribution throughout the season have solidified his status as a pivotal figure for Inter Miami and one of the decisive players in the MLS landscape. His performance has been a driving force behind Miami’s positioning within the Eastern Conference and their playoff prospects heading into the postseason.
While the team’s late-season form may not have matched their ambitions fully, maintaining second place and Messi’s individual triumph provide a strong foundation as Inter Miami prepares to challenge in the playoffs.
