- 14:30
At 38 years old, Lionel Messi has just delivered the first title in Inter Miami’s history in Major League Soccer, while also securing a second consecutive MVP trophy. Champion, best player, record-breaker: even in exile in Florida, the Argentine continues to push the limits of time and statistics.
Lionel Messi did not cross the Atlantic to retire in the sunshine. A year and a half after his arrival in Miami, MLS has grown accustomed to living to the rhythm of his moments of brilliance. Three days after leading Inter Miami to the championship title, the Argentine star was logically named the best player of the North American league for the 2025 season. Another line added to an already extraordinary career.
Inter Miami on Top of MLS
In the final, Inter Miami completed its 2025 season in style with a 3–1 victory over Vancouver, capturing the first MLS title in the young Florida franchise’s history. At the heart of the system, the Argentine number 10 orchestrated everything.
Across the regular season and playoffs combined, Messi finished as the top scorer (29 league goals, 35 across all MLS competitions) and the top assist provider with 19 assists — a clear symbol of his total influence on the game. At 38, he carried a team still under construction on his shoulders, turning an ambitious project into champions of North America.
A Historic Double MVP
On Tuesday, MLS made official what everyone was expecting: Lionel Messi won the Landon Donovan MVP Award for the second year in a row. No player had ever achieved such a double since the creation of the award in 1996.
Already crowned in 2024, the nine-time Ballon d’Or winner becomes only the second player in history to be named league MVP more than once — a feat previously reserved for Preki. But the Argentine adds the dimension of continuity: two consecutive seasons, two dominant campaigns, and a championship now shaped around his standard.
The 2026 World Cup in His Sights
Arriving in Miami in the summer of 2023 after his spell at PSG, Messi extended his contract until 2028, closing the door on a final chapter at Barcelona despite persistent rumors. In the meantime, two of his closest companions, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, have hung up their boots, both saluted by the Argentine after the title in recognition of their entire careers.
One question remains: will we see him again wearing the Albiceleste shirt at the 2026 World Cup, organized in Canada, Mexico, and the United States? Officially, nothing is decided. Unofficially, the prospect of a second World Cup title and a potential ninth Ballon d’Or could be enough to push him to extend the dream.
At a time when some are still wondering when this story will end, Messi provides the answer himself: in Florida, he is not turning the page — he is writing new ones.
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