Lionel Messi Wins 2nd Straight MLS MVP Award After Historic Inter Miami Season, Title

The accolades keep rolling in for Lionel Messi, who has won his second straight MLS MVP award after leading Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup.

MLS announced Messi as the MVP winner for the 2025 season on Tuesday.

Messi was widely expected to win the award again after leading the league in goals (29) and tying for the lead in assists (19) during the regular season. His 48 goal contributions were the second-most in a single season in MLS history.

The 38-year-old beat out fellow finalists Denis Bouanga, Anders Dreyer, Evander, and Sam Surridge for MVP honors. He is the second player in league history with multiple MVP wins, joining Sporting KC legend Preki in 1997 and 2003.

Messi is the first player to win the award in back-to-back years.

Per Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald, Messi received 70.4 percent of the total vote between the media, MLS players, clubs and fans. His highest percentage came from the media (83.05 percent).

Dreyer was a distant second with 11.2 percent of the total vote, followed by Bouanga (7.3 percent), Evander (4.8 percent) and Surridge (2.4 percent).

Inter Miami finished third in the overall standings with 65 points in the regular season, behind only Philadelphia (66) and FC Cincinnati (65).

Messi led the club to wins over Nashville, Cincinnati and New York City to earn a spot in the MLS Cup against Vancouver. He assisted on Rodrigo De Paul's goal in the 72nd minute that put Inter Miami up 2-1 against the Whitecaps.

Inter Miami would add a third goal for insurance in the 96th minute to seal the win.

An MVP win combined with Inter Miami's first title caps off the journey that Messi began back in 2023 when he originally signed with the club.