Lionel Messi has been named the 2025 MLS MVP, the league announced on Dec. 9. He led MLS with 48 goal contributions for title-winning Inter Miami.

Messi becomes the sixth player in MLS history to win MVP and a championship in the same season. Of the previous five, only Atlanta United's Josef Martinez in 2018 won MVP, a title and the Golden Boot as the league's scoring champion all in the same year, another hat trick of sorts that Messi achieved in 2025.

Son Heung-min beat Lionel Messi and was selected as the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Year by Transfer Markt. Germany's Transfer Markt announced on the 18th (Korea time) "Son Heung-min beat Lionel Messi with the MLS Transfer Markt Player of the Year award" This is a surprising result.

The Apple TV analyst breaks down Inter Miami's MLS Cup win, explains why Messi still decides everything, backs MLS's move to a fall-spring calendar, and tips LA Galaxy to rebound in 2026.

MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi and 2025 MLS Cup presented by Audi winner becomes the first player in league history to win back-to-back MVP trophies

Messi joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 and immediately helped the club claimed its first-ever trophy in the cross-border Leagues Cup. In 2024, Messi won his first league MVP award and led Miami to the Supporter’s Shield (best regular season record), but the team was upset in the first round of the playoffs.

This week, Inter Miami delivered a decision on Luis Suarez’s future that strengthens not only its sporting future but also the emotional core of the project, offering a major boost to Messi as the club prepares for a pivotal 2026 season.

MLS claims 3.6 million people watched on Apple TV and MLS Season Pass, as well as in Canada on TSN and RDS, as well as other international linear partners, including TNT and HBO Max in Mexico. That would mean north of 3.3 million viewers watched MLS Cup on Apple TV and other international linear partners.

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Prior to the beginning of the Lionel Messi era, a Spain World Cup champion revealed that he rejected David Beckham's offer to join Inter Miami.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is reportedly 'open' to joining MLS side the Chicago Fire on a free transfer at the end of the season. The 37-year-old has held positive talks with the club about a potential move after his contract with Hansi Flick's side expires.