December 9 (UPI) — Lionel Messi set another record in a football career already filled with breakthrough achievements, becoming the first man to retain the MLS MVP title.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was honored for his 2025 exploits at a ceremony on Tuesday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, three days after leading the Herons to their first MLS Cup title.
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“We have a lot of world-class players in our league, but there’s only one Leo Messi,” Major League Soccer president Don Garber told reporters.
Messi, 38, leads MLS with 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 games. He scored 48 goals in the regular season, ranking second in league history behind Carlos Vela’s 49 goals in 2019. Messi has also scored at least three goals in nine consecutive games and has a multi-goal record in 10 games.
The Argentinian forward won his second MLS MVP award with 70.4% of the votes cast by Landon Donovan. San Diego FC’s Anders Dreyer finished second, ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, FC Cincinnati’s Evander and Nashville SC’s Sam Suric.
Messi is the second player in MLS history to win multiple MVP awards, having previously won the title with Kansas City Wizards legend Preki in 1997 and 2003.
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The former Barcelona star earned MLS Cup MVP honors after adding two assists in the Herons’ 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup Final in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
He set an MLS playoff record with 15 goals (6 goals and 9 assists). Messi is under contract with the Herons until 2028, and the Herons plan to open a new stadium next year.
