Lionel Messi has etched his name into the MLS history books once again, securing the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award for the 2025 season. This marks his second consecutive MVP title, a feat unmatched by any other player in the league's history. The announcement was made by League Commissioner Don Garber on Tuesday, celebrating Messi's exceptional performance throughout the season.

The Argentinian superstar's impact on Inter Miami and the entire league has been undeniable. In the 2025 regular season, Messi showcased his brilliance by leading the league with 29 goals and contributing a total of 48 goal contributions. Although he appeared in only 28 regular-season games, his goal tally was the fourth-highest in a single season in MLS history. Furthermore, Messi became the first player in MLS history to record 10 multi-goal games in a single season, surpassing the previous record of eight. From late May to mid-July, he scored multiple goals in five consecutive games, establishing a new league record for the longest multi-goal streak.

Messi's dominance extended beyond the regular season and into the playoffs. He played a pivotal role in Inter Miami's triumphant run to the MLS Cup, contributing six goals and nine assists in six games. His exceptional performance in the final, where he provided two assists in Inter Miami's 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, earned him the MLS Cup MVP award.

His stellar regular season and playoff performances underscore Messi's value to Inter Miami. Messi's contributions helped Inter Miami secure their first-ever MLS Cup. In the final, Messi's vertical pass contributed to an own goal at 27 minutes, which opened the scoring for Inter Miami. Later in the match, Messi assisted Rodrigo De Paul, helping Inter Miami regain the lead.

Throughout the 2025 season, Messi reached several milestones and broke numerous records. He secured the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals. He is also the only professional player to have won both the MLS Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot in his career. Messi also set a new MLS record for the most non-penalty goals scored in a single season. He maintained an average of 1.78 goal involvements per 90 minutes, second only to his own record of 2.18 in 2024. Messi is only the second player in MLS history to lead the league in both goals and assists in the same season, matching Sebastian Giovinco's 2015 achievement.

The MVP vote reflected Messi's commanding presence and influence. He captured 70% of the total vote, with significant support from media members (83%), players (55%), and club staff (73%). Anders Dreyer finished second with 11% of the vote.

Since joining Inter Miami in July 2023, Messi has collected three trophies, including the Leagues Cup in 2023, the Supporters' Shield in 2024, and the MLS Cup in 2025. With 47 titles for club and country, Messi extends his own world record as the most decorated player in the history of the sport. After extending his contract with Inter Miami through 2028, Messi will continue his career in South Florida at the club's new stadium, Miami Freedom Park.