Lionel Messi has been named the 2025 MLS Most Valuable Player after a season that stood out in every way. The star forward helped Inter Miami win the first MLS Cup in the club’s history. His numbers were strong from the start of the year to the end, and he played in a way that left little room for debate. Messi scored 29 goals and made 19 assists in 28 games. His total goal contributions were close to the league’s all-time regular season record, set by Carlos Vela, who needed more matches to reach his mark. Messi’s impact on Miami’s attack was clear in every game he played. This award makes Messi one of only two players in league history to win the MVP twice. The only other player to reach that level is Preki, who played for the Kansas City Wizards. Messi is the first to win the award in back-to-back seasons. Even at age 38, he remains one of the most effective players in the league. He is not the oldest MVP winner in MLS history. Preki still holds that record after winning at age 40 in 2003, and he also became the oldest MVP in North American professional sports at that time. There had been debate when Messi won the MVP in 2024 because he missed many games due to injuries. He played in just over half of Miami’s matches that year. That created questions about whether a player who missed so much time should earn the award. In 2025, there were no such doubts. Messi had a complete season and guided Miami through a very busy schedule. Miami played 58 games across different competitions, the most ever played by any MLS team in a single year. The MVP is based on regular season performance, but Messi’s form stayed strong in every competition, which added to the sense that he was the clear choice. Messi also set a new record for goal contributions across both the regular season and the playoffs. He reached 61 total contributions, beating the previous best of 52 set by Vela. In the playoffs, Messi scored six goals and made seven assists. Miami played six playoff games in their run to the MLS Cup title. Messi was named MVP of the final after a game in which he set up two key goals. His passing, movement, and control helped Miami manage every part of the match. His form at the end of the regular season was important too. He scored 10 goals and made nine assists in Miami’s last eight league games. Those late-season results helped Miami secure a strong position heading into the playoffs. There were other players who had strong seasons and were named finalists for the MVP award. The list included Denis Bouanga from LAFC, Anders Dreyer from San Diego FC, Evander from FC Cincinnati, and Sam Surridge from Nashville SC. Each of them had seasons that, in another year, might have been strong enough to win. But Messi’s year stood above the rest. His total contributions, his influence on Miami’s results, and his role in the team’s league title made the vote one-sided. The voting was split between media members, MLS players, and club staff. Messi won 70% of the total vote. He earned 83% of the media vote, 55% of the vote from players, and 73% of the vote from club staff. Dreyer finished second with 11%, far behind Messi’s total. The wide margin showed how clear the decision was for most voters. Messi’s performance in 2025 was one of the best in league history, and the award reflects the scale of his impact. The 2025 MLS MVP title adds another major honor to his career and marks a season that will be remembered for a long time.