Messi Makes History as Nashville Sets Points Record on MLS Decision Day
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Lionel Messi becomes the first player to win consecutive Golden Boots while Nashville SC breaks the league's single-season points record.
Major League Soccer's regular season concluded with historic individual and team achievements. According to reporting from The Guardian, Inter Miami's Lionel Messi became the first player in league history to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons, finishing the year with 26 goals. Dallas forward Petar Musa followed in second place with 22 goals.
In the Eastern Conference, Nashville SC established a new MLS single-season points record. The Guardian reports Nashville finished with 77 points following a 2-0 win over Cincinnati, surpassing the previous record of 74 set by Inter Miami in 2024. Nashville secured the top seed in the East with a record of 23 wins, eight draws, and three defeats.
Inter Miami finished second in the East with 60 points after a 3-3 draw with Charlotte, where goals from Ian Fray, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul were offset by a second-half comeback featuring two goals from Liel Abada and a 90th-minute equalizer by Rodolfo Aloko. New England finished third with 58 points after a 1-0 loss to Orlando.
In the West, the postseason picture was finalized among six teams vying for three spots. The Guardian reports that the Portland Timbers secured a berth with a 2-0 victory over Austin. Real Salt Lake also advanced after defeating the LA Galaxy 2-1, while the Seattle Sounders claimed the final spot with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC. The Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, and Minnesota United were eliminated from postseason contention.
Other notable outcomes included Vancouver finishing second in the overall standings after defeating Montreal 2-0. In the East, New York City FC, Red Bull New York, and Toronto FC all missed the postseason.