Messi gets MLS MVP award for second time consecutively, making history
Lionel Messi holding the MLS MVP Award… Credit: @FabrizioRomano | X
Lionel Messi, Argentine superstar, has been announced the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season, becoming the first player in league history to claim the award in back-to-back seasons.
League commissioner Don Garber made this declaration on Tuesday.
The declaration caps a remarkable year for the Inter Miami CF forward, who led his team to their first MLS Cup victory while delivering extraordinary individual performances.
Messi scored 29 goals and provided 19 assists in 28 appearances, just one short of Carlos Vela’s record for goal contributions in a single season, though Vela’s came in 31 games.
He joins Kansas City Wizards legend Preki as the only players to win the MVP award twice, and he is the first to do so consecutively.
At 38 years old, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is not the oldest MLS MVP; that distinction also belongs to Preki, who won the award at age 40 in 2003.
He delivered the best attacking season in MLS history, anchoring Miami’s star-studded lineup.
While the MVP considers regular-season performance, Messi and Miami competed on five fronts in 2025, setting an MLS record with 58 games played in a calendar year.
Though Vela still holds the regular-season goal contributions record, Messi set a new benchmark across regular season and playoffs with 61 goal contributions, surpassing Vela’s 52.
He was particularly decisive in the playoffs, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in Miami’s six-game run to the MLS Cup, where he was named Final MVP following a two-assist performance.
Messi also finished the regular season strongly, scoring 10 goals and assisting nine in Miami’s last eight games.
The other MVP finalists were LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer, FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander, and Nashville SC striker Sam Surridge. While each had strong seasons, Messi’s dominance made the choice clear.
Messi won with 70% of the total vote, which was split among media members, MLS players, and MLS club staff.
He captured 83% of the media vote, 55% of the player vote, and 73% of the club vote. Dreyer finished second with 11% of the total vote.
