Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

Lionel Messi Loses MLS Award to Son Heung-Min

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 12:41 PM ET

Lionel Messi is easily considered the best player in the MLS due to his performances and stats. The Inter Miami star was recently awarded the MLS Golden Boot by scoring 29 goals in 28 MLS games.

Messi is the favorite to win the 2025 MLS MVP award at the end of the season due to his impressive 2025 MLS season with Inter Miami.

Despite the amazing performances, Messi managed to lose out on an award to LAFC's Son Heung-Min. The South Korean forward joined LAFC in the summer and is considered one of the best players in the league as well.

Son Heung-Min #7 of Los Angeles Football Club controlling a ball during a game against Colorado Rapids at Dick's Spprting Goods Park on October 18, 2025 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by John McGloughlin/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

The MLS announced the winner for the 2025 Goal of the Year award adn it was given to Son Heung-Min. The South Korean star scored a free-kick goal against FC Dallas in August, which was his first goal for LAFC.

Free kick perfection.

Son Heung-Min's strike is the @ATT Goal of the Year! pic.twitter.com/lsF6tsN2fT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 27, 2025

MLS fans voted the goal as the winner for this award, ahead of Lionel Messi's goal against Montreal in Matchday 22.

Lionel Messi's Goal vs Montreal

On the voting charts, Messi's goal against Montreal was the seocnd most voted goal out of the nominees.

Messi scored two goals and provided an assist in Inter Miami's 4-1 away win against Montreal. The goal that was nominated for the 2025 MLS Goal of the Year was the fourth Inter Miami goal.

Messi had a solo run that led to him running past a couple of Montreal players and then scoring the goal in the top corner.

?

That solo run against Montreal wasn’t just a goal, it was pure art ‍

No surprise it’s now nominated for the Goal of the Year in the MLS

@MLS pic.twitter.com/9PoQXqEMHD
— 433 (@433) October 20, 2025