Lionel Messi’s fans can’t stop talking about Lionel Messi after a string of jaw‑dropping moments. The soccer legend’s latest season with Inter Miami has sparked fresh chatter across social media.
Keep reading to see why everyone is obsessed with this storyline and what you can learn from it.
Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP 2025 for the Second Year Running
The phrase Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP 2025 feels almost inevitable right now, but the journey behind it is extraordinary. Major League Soccer announced on 9 December 2025 that Messi became the first player in league history to claim the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons.
Despite being 38 years old, he dominated the regular season with 29 goals and 19 assists, totalling 48 goal contributions, the second‑highest in MLS history. These numbers surpassed his 20 goals and 16 assists from his first MVP campaign in 2024.
Messi’s brilliance wasn’t limited to the regular season. During Inter Miami’s title run, he contributed six goals and nine assists in the 2025 playoffs, a single‑postseason record of 15 goal contributions.
In the MLS Cup final against Vancouver, he supplied two decisive assists: first threading a pass to Rodrigo De Paul for a 71st‑minute go‑ahead goal, and later lofting a ball to Tadeo Allende in stoppage time to seal a 3‑1 victory. Those moments earned him MLS Cup MVP honours and cemented Inter Miami’s first championship.
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How did the Inter Miami title win influence his MVP case?
Messi’s ability to turn games on their head played a huge role in Inter Miami’s title win. He not only captained the team through a gruelling 58‑game calendar but also delivered multiple scoring bursts: 10 multi‑goal matches (an MLS record) and at least three goal contributions in nine different games.
He even scored multiple goals in five straight matches between late May and mid‑July, another league first.
What happened during the MLS 2025 MVP announcement?
The MVP announcement highlighted how decisively voters backed Messi. According to the MLS communications release, he received 83.05 % of the media vote, 55.17 % of the player vote and 73.08 % of the club vote, totalling 70.43 % overall.
Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC finished a distant second at 11.15 %, with Denis Bouanga, Evander and Sam Surridge rounding out the ballot. These MLS 2025 MVP results underline how widely Messi’s peers and journalists appreciated his record‑breaking season.
Breaking Down the Messi MLS Awards and Records
Messi’s trophy cabinet expanded rapidly in North America. Along with his second Landon Donovan MLS MVP, he claimed the Golden Boot with 29 goals, three MLS Player of the Month awards, and six Player of the Matchday honours.
His 48 regular‑season goal contributions were just one shy of Carlos Vela’s league record. Across the regular season and playoffs, Messi amassed 63 goal contributions, eclipsing Vela’s 52 from 2019.
These milestones feed the Lionel Messi MLS records conversation and reinforce his status as the best player in MLS history.
Comparing Lionel Messi Second MVP to His First
While Messi’s 2024 MVP run was criticized because injuries limited him to 55 % of Inter Miami’s games, his 2025 campaign silenced doubters. He played almost every match, led the league in both goals and assists, and guided his club to multiple trophies.
The context matters when evaluating Messi back‑to‑back MVP credentials. The second award feels earned because it capped a historic season rather than compensating for star power.
Why the Second MVP Matters for MLS
From a league perspective, the occurrence of ‘Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP 2025’ proves that MLS can produce sustained excellence. Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, and within two seasons, delivered a Leagues Cup, a Supporters’ Shield and an MLS Cup.
He also became the first player to record at least 36 goal contributions in multiple seasons. It also raises expectations for future signings, coaches and young players aiming to emulate the Messi Inter Miami performance standard.
Statistics Table
| Key stats | Regular season | Playoffs | Combined |
| Goals (Messi) | 29 | 6 | 35 |
| Assists (Messi) | 19 | 9 | 28 |
| Goal contributions | 48 | 15 | 63 |
| Multi‑goal games | 10 (MLB record) | N/A | 10 |
| Total vote share | ‑ | ‑ | 70.43 % |
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