The Danish midfielder was the joint leader in assists and tallied 19 goals. San Diego's 63 points were also a record for an MLS expansion franchise. The club claimed the top seed in the Western Conference, owning the tiebreaker over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

This feverish competitiveness has contributed to Messi’s continued longevity. The 38-year-old recently signed a new contract extension until 2028 and is set to plough on in Miami without two of his closest cohorts, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

The Inter Miami star has been in brilliant form in 2025, and will likely become the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons.

The MLS regular season comes to a close very soon, and there is one clear frontrunner for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, and it surprises no one.

Messi’s hat trick against Nashville follows his performance off the bench against the New England Revolution on Oct. 19, 2024, three days after his 10th international hat trick for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against Boliva on Oct. 16, 2024. Yeah, two in one week.

MLS has unveiled the finalists for its 2025 awards. Lionel Messi and Gabonese striker Denis Bouanga have both been nominated.

The first in MLS ever to score 20-plus goals in three consecutive seasons is a victim of bad timing, his own consistency and some guy named Lionel Messi.