There’s no doubt Lionel Messi is the biggest star in Major League Soccer, even now at 38 years old. The Argentine forward’s immense talent allows him to make a difference every time he steps on the field — a fact that has also earned him frequent recognition. Just hours before the Leagues Cup matchup between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL, Leo received another individual honor.
On Wednesday, MLS announced through its official social media accounts that Lionel Messi had been awarded for his performance last weekend, with his goal for the Herons against LA Galaxy selected as the best of Matchday 29.
The Argentine star played just 45 minutes at Chase Stadium, but that was enough time to dazzle fans with his magic. With the match tied 1-1 and just minutes remaining, Lionel received a pass from Rodrigo De Paul, weaved past two defenders, and fired a left-footed shot that tucked into the corner — leaving goalkeeper Novak Micovic with no chance.
This moment of brilliance earned Messi recognition from the fans, who voted his goal as the best of the weekend in MLS, earning 80% of the votes. Far behind, with 13.8%, was Cincinnati FC’s Evander and his goal in the 3-2 win over Portland Timbers.
Messi’s individual awards at Inter Miami
The Goal of the Matchday 29 award is the sixth time Lionel Messi has earned that honor this MLS season, adding to a long list of individual accolades he’s received since joining Inter Miami in July 2023.
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Since then, Messi has been named MLS MVP for the 2024 season, Player of the Month four times (twice in 2024 and twice in 2025), was included in the MLS Best XI for 2024, selected as an MLS All-Star in 2025 (though he chose not to participate in the game), and was named Leagues Cup Best Player and Top Scorer in 2023.
Currently, Leo leads MLS in scoring with 19 goals — one more than Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. On top of that, if he maintains his current form, Messi will be the frontrunner to win a second consecutive league MVP once the regular season concludes.
Messi’s team goals
While Lionel Messi values individual honors, he’s always made it clear that collective achievements matter far more to him. In that sense, he’s also found success since joining Inter Miami, having led the team to the only two titles in its history: the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.
This season, the Herons fell short in the Concacaf Champions Cup, losing in the semifinals to Vancouver Whitecaps, and made a respectable run in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 before falling in the Round of 16 to Paris Saint-Germain.
With that in mind, Inter Miami’s title hopes in 2025 now come down to two opportunities. One is MLS, where they are serious contenders in the Eastern Conference. The other, much closer, is the Leagues Cup — where they will face Tigres of Mexico on Wednesday night with a place in the semifinals on the line.
