Major League Soccer has a new benchmark for dominance. On Tuesday, Commissioner Don Garber announced that Lionel Messi is the 2025 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player.
This victory is unprecedented. The Inter Miami CF captain is now the first player in the league’s history to secure the prestigious award in two consecutive seasons.
While other stars have shone in the league, the Argentine’s influence in 2025 was absolute. This latest accolade serves as the crowning achievement of a year where he also propelled Miami to their inaugural MLS Cup title.
A Landslide Victory for Lionel Messi
The voting process left little room for debate regarding who ruled the pitch this year. Messi secured a staggering 70% of the total vote, a tally split between media, players, and club staff.
His grip on the electorate was comprehensive:
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Media Vote: 83%
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Club Vote: 73%
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Player Vote: 55%
No other finalist came close to threatening his reign. Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC finished a distant second, capturing just 11% of the ballots. Other finalists included Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), all of whom were left chasing the icon’s shadow.
Chasing Legends and Breaking Records
By claiming his second trophy, Messi joins an exclusive club of two. Before today, Kansas City Wizards legend Preki was the sole player to possess two MLS MVP awards.
However, the contexts differ significantly. Preki won his titles years apart and remains the oldest winner at age 40 (in 2003). At 38, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has carved out his own unique slice of history by winning his titles back-to-back.
Unrivaled Statistical Dominance
The numbers behind the award are relentless. In just 28 regular-season appearances, Messi recorded 29 goals and 19 assists.
These figures brought him agonizingly close to Carlos Vela’s single-season record for goal contributions. Messi finished just one shy of Vela’s mark, though it is worth noting Vela required 31 games to achieve his total.
When the scope expands beyond the regular season, Messi stands alone. Across the entire 2025 campaign, including the playoffs, he set a new all-time league standard with 61 total goal contributions. This shattered the previous combined benchmark of 52, also held by Vela.
Decisive Under Pressure
While the MVP award strictly honors regular-season performance, Messi’s momentum never waned. He anchored Inter Miami through a grueling calendar year that featured a record-breaking 58 matches across five competitions.
His late-season surge was particularly lethal. In Miami’s final eight games, he tallied 10 goals and nine assists, ensuring he entered the postseason in peak form.
Once in the playoffs, he continued his masterclass, adding six goals and seven assists during a six-game run that ended with Miami lifting the trophy.
Lionel Messi has once again proven that even in the twilight of his career, he is not just competing in the MLS—he is redefining it.
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