Lionel Messi has been named MLS MVP for the second consecutive season, earning the 2025 Landon Donovan Award and becoming the first player in league history to win the honor in back-to-back years. The Inter Miami captain achieved the same recognition in 2024.
Messi delivered decisive performances throughout the campaign, standing out in both the regular season and the playoffs. He finished the league with 29 goals and 19 assists, leading the main offensive categories and playing a central role in Inter Miami’s first-ever MLS Cup title. In the final against Vancouver, Messi assisted Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende in the 3–1 victory.
The voting results reflected his dominance, with 83% of MLS players, 73% of coaching staffs, and 55% of media members selecting him as the league’s most valuable player.
Across all competitions, Messi recorded 35 goals and 27 assists in 34 matches, totaling 62 direct goal contributions, which also establishes a new league record.
Despite strong seasons from competitors such as Evander, Dreyer, and Bouanga, none matched Messi’s impact or consistency, particularly in decisive stages of the competition. With this award, he joins Brazilian midfielder Preki as the only players in MLS history to win multiple MVP titles, although Messi now stands alone as the only one to do so in consecutive years.
