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Messi claims second straight Golden Boot as Nashville sets points record on MLS Decision Day
Lionel Messi became the first player to win consecutive MLS Golden Boot awards, finishing the regular season with 26 goals. Inter Miami let a three-goal lead slip in a 3-3 draw with Charlotte, but kept second place in the Eastern Conference and secured home advantage for the first two playoff rounds.
Nashville set a new MLS single-season points record, ending with 77 after beating Cincinnati 2-0 and surpassing Miami’s previous record of 74. Miami finished on 60 points, ahead of New England on 58; the day’s results also settled the remaining playoff places, with Portland, Real Salt Lake and Seattle qualifying in the West.
In short
- Messi won his second straight Golden Boot with 26 goals.
- Miami drew 3-3 after leading Charlotte 3-0.
- Nashville set an MLS record with 77 points.
Explained simply
Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top men’s football league in the United States and Canada. Its regular season determines which teams reach the play-offs, where the league champion is decided; teams also compete within Eastern and Western conferences.
Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward who joined Inter Miami in 2023, while Nashville SC is one of the league’s newer clubs. The Golden Boot goes to the regular-season top scorer, and the points table measures teams’ results across the season.
The final standings matter because they decide who qualifies for the play-offs and which teams host matches. A season points record offers another measure of a club’s consistency, separate from whether it goes on to win the title.