Lionel Messi has done it again.
In a season full of spectacular moments, impossible passes, and vintage finishing, the Inter Miami superstar has officially cemented his place in MLS history with another record-shattering campaign. The 2025 season didn’t just confirm his dominance, it elevated him to a level no other MLS player has ever reached.
Below is a full breakdown of Messi’s historic back-to-back MVP run, his statistical mastery, and the voting results that made this one of the most decisive MVP wins in league history.
1. Making MLS History — Back-to-Back MVP Seasons
Messi’s 2025 season will be remembered not only for the numbers, but for the groundbreaking milestones he achieved along the way.
✔ First Back-to-Back MVP in MLS history
Messi becomes the first player ever to win the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award in consecutive seasons, taking home the trophy in both 2024 and 2025. No player not Zlatan, not Giovinco, not Carlos Vela has ever managed that feat.
✔ Only the second two-time MVP winner
Messi now joins Preki as the only players to win the MVP award twice. Preki’s wins came in 1997 and 2003 meaning Messi is the first to do it within back-to-back seasons.
✔ Rare MVP Double: Regular Season MVP + MLS Cup Final MVP
After leading Inter Miami to their first-ever MLS Cup title, Messi also captured the MLS Cup Final MVP, becoming just the sixth player in league history to sweep both season and final MVP honors in the same year.
It’s a combination of individual brilliance and team success that puts the 2025 season among the greatest ever produced in MLS.
2. Messi’s Record-Breaking 2025 Season — By the Numbers
Messi didn’t just dominate, he put up one of the most efficient and explosive statistical seasons in MLS history. His 2025 numbers surpassed his 2024 MVP campaign in almost every category.
2025 Regular Season Stats
| Category | Stat | League Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 29 goals in 28 matches | 1st (Golden Boot Winner) | 4th most goals in a single MLS season |
| Assists | 19 | 1st (tied) | Led or tied league lead |
| Goal Contributions | 48 (29G + 19A) | 1st | 2nd highest single-season total in MLS history |
| Multi-Goal Games | 10 | New MLS Record | Most multi-goal matches in a season |
Led MLS in BOTH goals and assists
Messi becomes just the second player in MLS history to lead the league in goals and assists in the same season.
The only other player to achieve this?
Sebastian Giovinco in 2015.
This performance sets Messi apart statistically and historically proving that even at 38, he remains one of the most productive footballers on the planet.
3. MVP Voting: Messi Wins in a Landslide
The voters didn’t hesitate. Messi’s dominance was obvious to media, players, and club personnel, resulting in one of the most lopsided MVP votes in league history.
✔ 70.43% Total Vote — Massive Victory
Here’s the breakdown:
- Media Vote: 83.05%
- Club Personnel Vote: 73.08%
- Player Vote: 55.17%
- Overall: 70.43% of all votes
For comparison, the MVP runner-up Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC finished with just over 11% total voting share.
Despite playing fewer matches than some competitors, Messi’s efficiency, consistency, and game-changing presence made the result inevitable.
4. How Messi Lifted Inter Miami to MLS Cup Glory
Messi’s 2025 campaign didn’t stop at individual awards. He led Inter Miami to:
- Their first MLS Cup title
- One of the most efficient offensive seasons in league history
- The league’s best record in matches decided by one goal
- A top-two finish in expected goals and expected assists
Miami finally reached the elite tier Messi envisioned when he arrived and he was the driving force behind every milestone.
His MVP-level play didn’t just shine… it transformed the entire franchise.
5. The Legacy of Messi’s MLS Reign
Messi’s back-to-back MVP seasons have done more than rewrite league records. They’ve:
- Elevated global visibility for MLS
- Boosted viewership and attendance league-wide
- Attracted new international talent
- Shifted tactical balance in MLS toward elite playmaking
- Cemented the most successful signing in MLS history
With Messi under contract and still performing at a world-class level, MLS may be witnessing the greatest individual era the league has ever seen.
Lionel Messi’s 2025 season is nothing short of historic.
From breaking records to lifting trophies to dominating the MVP vote, he has cemented himself not only as one of the best players in MLS but as one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in American sports.
The numbers, the milestones, and the moments all point to one truth:
Messi isn’t just playing in MLS. He’s redefining it.
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