Lionel Messi takes Golden Boot lead & adds ANOTHER record | OneFootball

By MLSsoccer staff

Lionel Messi has added another milestone and taken sole control of the Golden Boot presented by Audi race heading into Decision Day.

The GOAT struck for a brace in Inter Miami CF’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday at Chase Stadium. It was his ninth multi-goal game, the most all-time in an MLS season.

Messi moved ahead of Stern John (Columbus-1998), Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay-2000) and Zlatan Ibrahimović (LA Galaxy-2019), who were tied with eight multi-goal games.

Messi’s two goals give him 26 on the season, two more than LAFC talisman Denis Bouanga (24) in the Golden Boot chase. He also assisted Jordi Alba's second-half strike vs. Atlanta, tying him with San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer for the league lead (18 overall).

Messi, who could become the first back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP in league history, now has 44 goal contributions on the season, five shy of the single-season record set by LAFC’s Carlos Vela (49) in 2019.

Inter Miami, who clinched home-field advantage in Round One of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, conclude their regular season at Nashville SC next Saturday (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). They're vying with FC Cincinnati for the Eastern Conference No. 2 seed.

WATCH: Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba put on SHOW!