Lionel Messi cemented another chapter of Major League Soccer history on Saturday, November 7, 2026, by becoming the first player in league history to capture back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards.
However, the individual achievement carried a bittersweet tone at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, after defending champions Inter Miami squandered a comfortable three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Charlotte FC on Decision Day.
​Kicking off at 4:00 PM EST, Inter Miami appeared set for a dominant close to the regular season following an explosive first half. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the 14th minute by converting from a corner kick delivery.
Veteran forward Luis Suárez doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 33rd minute, tapping in from close range after Germán Berterame redirected a corner from Messi. Rodrigo De Paul extended the margin to 3-0 in the 42nd minute with a strike from outside the penalty area, sending the home side into the break with total control.
​The second half produced a dramatic shift in momentum as Charlotte FC mounted an unexpected rally. Forward Liel Abada struck twice in five minutes, scoring in the 50th and 55th minutes to pull the visitors within one goal.
Charlotte completed the comeback in the 90th minute when substitute Rodolfo Aloko pounced on a rebound after Tyger Smalls struck the woodwork, snatching a point for the fifth-seeded visitors.
​Despite being held off the scoresheet in the finale, Messi claimed the 2026 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi with 26 goals across 31 matches, adding to his 29-goal performance from the 2025 campaign.
​The result leaves Inter Miami second in the Eastern Conference standings as they head into the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they will host a best-of-three first-round series as the No. 2 seed.
