Messi wins back to back mls MVP awards

Lionel Messi secured consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player awards after spearheading Inter Miami’s title-winning campaign, supplying two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps that clinched the club’s first MLS Cup and earned him MLS Cup MVP. The 38-year-old finished the playoffs with a postseason-record 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists), delivering at least one goal or assist in each of Miami’s six playoff matches and anchoring a decisive run to the title.

Across the full season Messi amassed 29 goals and 19 assists for 48 goal contributions, falling one short of Carlos Vela’s single-season record of 49 set in 2019, and became the first player in MLS history to record 10 multi-goal matches in a single campaign. His midseason arrival transformed Inter Miami’s form and tactics: the team moved from a middling position to champions, with teammates and coaching staff crediting Messi’s vision, movement and leadership for elevating collective performance and mentoring younger players.

Messi’s influence extended well beyond the pitch. Matches featuring him produced spikes in attendance, broadcast viewership and merchandise sales, and his presence drew international media attention that boosted MLS’s commercial profile. League officials said the signing accelerated the league’s global visibility and appeal, while analysts noted measurable growth in audience metrics even for fixtures Messi did not start. Voting for the MVP included players, coaches and journalists, and Messi’s commanding season secured him the rare feat of back-to-back MLS MVP honors; he now joins Preki as one of the few multiple-time winners.

Inter Miami framed the awards as milestones in the club’s short history, and fans celebrated across the city with gatherings and displays of support. The club faces the task of sustaining competitive momentum and managing heightened expectations, as success ushers in increased scrutiny and commercial opportunities. For MLS, Messi’s campaign serves as a case study in how a marquee signing can reshape competitive dynamics, fan engagement and international perception.

Statistically dominant, commercially transformative and decisive in key moments, Messi’s season combined record-setting output with an immediate trophy. As the club and league prepare for the next season, stakeholders emphasize retaining progress on and off the field while building around the platform his arrival created.