Lionel Messi has claimed Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot, finishing the season with 29 goals to outpace Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, who each scored 24. It’s the Argentine’s first MLS Golden Boot, after narrowly missing out last year to D.C. United’s Christian Benteke by three goals.
Getty Images SportBreaking down the stats
Messi made history as the first Inter Miami player to capture the league’s Golden Boot in his second season and is only the second Argentine to claim the award – following Valentín “Taty” Castellanos, who netted 19 goals for New York City FC in 2021. His 29-goal haul also places him among the most prolific campaigns in league history. Only Josef Martínez (31 in 2018) and Carlos Vela (34 in 2019) have scored more in a Golden Boot-winning season since 2005. Messi’s 1.03 goals per game trail only Vela’s 1.10 from that 2019 campaign, while his 28 non-penalty goals set a new single-season MLS record, surpassing the previous mark by three.
Messi scored his first hat-trick of the season on Decision Day, but he set a new record as the first player in league history to notch 10 multi-goal games. Stern John (Columbus Crew, 1998), Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay Mutiny, 2000), and Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy, 2019) previously were tied as record holders with eight.
AdvertisementAFPRanking MLS season among European ones
Messi's 29 league goals rank 10 all-time in his legendary career, with his top one being the 50-goal season he had with Barcelona in the 2011-12 campaign.
Getty Images SportAll-around superstar
Messi's 48 goal contributions (29 goals, 19 assists) this season ranks second in MLS history, just behind Carlos Vela's dominant 2019 season – where he had 34 goals and 15 assists. He's also the second player to lead the league in scoring and assists, following Sebastian Giovinco's 22 goals and 15 assists season in 2015.
Playoffs await
Inter Miami kick off their best of three series against Nashville SC on Friday.
