Lionel Messi Wins Second Consecutive MLS MVP Award, Makes History
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has made history by winning the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2025 season, becoming the first player in league history to claim the honor in back-to-back years. The announcement was made by MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Tuesday.
Messi enjoyed a remarkable year with Inter Miami CF, guiding the team to their first MLS Cup victory while producing exceptional individual performances. He scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists in 28 appearances, just one short of Carlos Vela’s single-season goal contributions record, though Vela’s came in 31 games.
With this achievement, Messi joins Kansas City Wizards legend Preki as one of only two players to win the MVP award twice. He is the first to do so in consecutive seasons. At 38 years old, Messi is not the oldest MLS MVP; that record belongs to Preki, who won at age 40 in 2003.
Messi’s 2025 campaign is considered one of the best attacking seasons in MLS history. Across the regular season and playoffs, he set a new benchmark with 61 goal contributions, surpassing Vela’s 52. During the playoffs, Messi scored six goals and provided seven assists in six games, helping Miami secure the MLS Cup. He was also named the Final MVP after contributing two assists in the championship match.
The other MVP finalists included LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer, FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander, and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge. Despite strong seasons from each, Messi’s dominance was clear. He won 70% of the total vote, which included media members, MLS players, and club staff. Messi captured 83% of the media vote, 55% of the player vote, and 73% of the club vote, while Dreyer finished second with 11%.
Messi’s outstanding performance in 2025, including scoring 10 goals and assisting nine in Miami’s last eight regular-season games, solidifies his status as one of the greatest players in MLS history and reinforces his legendary career worldwide.
