Lionel Messi Eyes Historic MLS Goalscoring Record as Inter Miami Prepares for 2025 Campaign

Lionel Messi has delivered extraordinary performances for Inter Miami following his arrival at the MLS club during the summer of 2023, but might 2025 become his most legendary campaign to date?

Although the eight-time Ballon d'Or champion began the campaign with some uneven form and couldn't guide Miami to Concacaf Champions Cup success, he has rediscovered his finest form and shattered multiple records across just 15 MLS matches this season.

Following his 2023 arrival, Messi has overtaken Gonzalo Higuaín to become the franchise's all-time top scorer and leading contributor with 54 goals and 25 assists across 65 total appearances, while recently achieving the distinction of being the first MLS athlete to find the net twice in four consecutive matches.

This comes after establishing himself as the inaugural MLS player to score at the FIFA Club World Cup through his free-kick strike against FC Porto, while already possessing league records for most assists delivered in one match with five and highest goal contributions in a single game with six.

However, might additional achievements await Messi this campaign? With 14 goals and seven assists through only 15 appearances, he could contend for both retaining his MLS MVP honor and achieving one of the finest single-season scoring marks in league annals.

The challenge won't be simple, particularly since he isn't currently topping the MLS Golden Boot standings, sitting two goals behind Nashville SC's Sam Surridge—whom he'll encounter on Saturday.

Subscribe here to MLS Season Pass

Messi Chases MLS Legends

Should Messi aim to surpass the MLS single-season scoring mark, he must find an additional 21 goals throughout Miami's remaining 16 regular-season fixtures, starting with Saturday's encounter against Nashville.

Had it not been for a somewhat sluggish campaign beginning and some rotation that caused him to miss three matches, he might realistically be much nearer. Nevertheless, the required average of 1.2 goals per match, assuming he features in every game, appears attainable.

Renowned Mexican international and former LAFC striker Carlos Vela currently holds the all-time single-season record, having netted 34 goals during 2019. Josef Martínez occupies second place with 31 goals for Atlanta United in 2018, while Zlatan Ibrahimović's 30 goals in 2019 with LA Galaxy completes the top three.

Single Season MLS Goalscoring Records

Could Messi Win the 2025 MLS Golden Boot?

Messi has previously claimed the MLS MVP Award, yet hasn't secured a Golden Boot since joining Inter Miami. Nevertheless, without an injury during the final stretch of the 2024 season, he might have managed several additional goals, elevating his 20-goal tally beyond Christian Benteke's Golden Boot-winning performance of 23 goals with D.C. United.

This campaign, Messi positions himself much nearer to Golden Boot contention and has demonstrated more reliable production in multiple-goal performances, while maintaining his fitness. Presently, he trails Surridge by merely two goals for the league leadership and could claim it on Saturday with a hat-trick.

While the all-time single-season scoring record might prove challenging in 2025, securing both the Golden Boot and MLS MVP Award, as Vela accomplished in 2019, represents a definitely realistic target.

MLS Golden Boot Leaders 2025