The race for the 2025 MLS Golden Boot is coming down to the final matchday of the season, with Decision Day set to live up to its namesake.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi leads the race heading into the final matchday, having returned to the Herons amid international duty with Argentina to score a brace, lifting his total to 26 goals in a 4–0 win over Atlanta United.
LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, who missed two matches due to representing Gabon in World Cup qualifying, sits two goals behind Messi on 24. Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge is on 23, but needs a hat trick and some help if he’s to claim the award.
As much as MLS Cup reigns as the primary goal for each, it’s clear there’s an unparalleled desire to capture the individual honor this season. For Messi, it would likely be enough to become the first back-to-back MLS Most Valuable Player—for Bouanga, it would make him just the sixth player in MLS history to win the honor twice.
“I have one more chance with my teammates for the last match against Colorado, and I hope to win the Golden Boot for my son and my family,” Bouanga said after tying Messi at 24 goals in an LAFC win over Atlanta on Oct. 5. “As a personal goal, it would be to win the Golden Boot, and as for the team, win MLS Cup.”






