Lionel Messi has just scored his 20th goal of the 2025 MLS regular season in Inter Miami’s 3–1 defeat of the Seattle Sounders, making him the fifth player in MLS history to post 20 or more goals in back-to-back seasons.
Messi achieved the latest milestone on the heels of a 2024 campaign that saw him claim the Landon Donovan MLS MVP after a 20-goal, 16-assist season, and he played a key role in helping Miami win the Supporters’ Shield last season.
His consistent scoring has driven Miami’s success and shows how quickly he has adjusted to life in MLS since joining in 2023.
Related: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami near deal to extend contract through 2026
Messi joins an exclusive club
Before Messi, there had only been four other players to achieve consecutive 20-goal in two MLS seasons: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Josef Martinez, David Villa and Denis Bouanga.
Messi’s entry onto that list shows how quickly he has gotten the hang of the MLS — just two seasons in — and how rare it is to join that conversation in the league.
This year the Argentine has hit the 20-goal mark in 21 appearances, with over ten assists to stay in contention for both the Golden Boot and MVP. He has shown over the course of two seasons that he is Inter Miami’s most lethal player, as his scoring has backed the team being at least competitive in the playoffs.
Currently, Inter Miami is still well-positioned to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but the challenge remains to turn a great regular season into success in the playoffs. Messi’s legacy in MLS will be determined not only by personal records, but also by whether Miami can take advantage of Messi’s on-field brilliance to win trophies.
Related: Is the honeymoon over for Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami squad with MLS fans?