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Lionel Messi Makes MLS History with Record Goal vs Seattle Sounders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Marcelo Cartaxo | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 11:04 PM ET

Inter Miami avenged their 3-0 Leagues Cup final defeat by putting three past the Seattle Sounders at home just two weeks later — and Lionel Messi marked the night with another MLS record.

Going into the game, Miami was short-handed. Luis Suárez, Tomás Avilés, and Fafà Picault were all unavailable, and the pressure was on to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive. But for Messi, pressure is nothing new. Once again, he delivered.

With his goal against the Sounders, Messi became only the fifth player in MLS history to score at least 20 goals in back-to-back seasons. More importantly, he kept Inter Miami’s playoff push alive, as Columbus Crew and New York City continue to fight for a postseason spot without having to go through the play-in.

Argentine legend Lionel Messi has scored 20 goals in 21 games for @InterMiamiCF this season pic.twitter.com/E6sFKpk2Gb
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 17, 2025

Messi Is on the Hunt for the MLS Golden Boot

The Golden Boot is awarded to the top scorer in the MLS season, and Lionel Messi is chasing it. Going into this round, Messi had 19 goals—just two behind Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge, who led with 21. Now, there's only one goal separating the two stars.

Surridge, on the other hand, shows no signs of slowing down. In the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Philadelphia Union, he bagged a hat-trick. Had those goals counted in MLS play, Messi would likely be out of the race with a four-goal gap to close.

La Pulga still has a shot at the Golden Boot, but it may depend on Surridge cooling off after one of the best scoring runs of his career. Messi, Surridge and Evander from Cincinnati FC are on the race for the MVP award too.