Lionel Messi Claims Third 2025 MLS Matchday Award

Lionel Messi wasted no time reminding Major League Soccer just who rules its spotlight. In Matchday 22, the Argentine icon engineered Inter Miami’s emphatic 4-1 comeback victory over CF Montréal, scoring twice, adding an assist, and—in the process—collecting his third 2025 MLS Player of the Matchday honor. The latest accolade further cements his dominance in a season already stuffed with record-chasing storylines.

Lionel Messi turns deficit into dazzling showcase

Inter Miami fell behind early at Stade Saputo when Jules-Anthony Vilsaint finished a slick Montréal break. Yet the setback only seemed to awaken Lionel Messi. In the 24th minute he threaded a defense-splitting pass that allowed winger Tadeo Allende to slide home the equalizer. Four minutes before the interval, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner ghosted into the box to bury Telasco Segovia’s squared ball, nudging Miami ahead 2-1.

The crowd had barely settled after halftime when Segovia added a third, but the night’s signature moment arrived in the 62nd minute. Collecting possession inside the left channel, Lionel Messi slalomed between six blue shirts, shrugged off a last-ditch lunge, and tucked a low drive past goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. The solo effort instantly joined the league’s highlight reel and effectively ended Montréal’s resistance.

Stat line that echoes through MLS history

With those contributions, Lionel Messi now boasts 19 goal involvements—12 goals and seven assists—in just 14 league appearances, an eye-watering 0.86 goals per game. He is tied for third in the Golden Boot race despite playing fewer minutes than any teammate in the top ten. The Matchday accolade is his ninth overall in MLS, making him only the 11th player to reach that mark and just the second active star after Josef Martínez.

How Lionel Messi elevates Inter Miami on and off the pitch

Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino lauded his captain afterward: “When you have a player who can change the match in a single action, confidence spreads to every corner of the squad.” Indeed, Inter Miami sit atop the Supporters’ Shield standings, averaging 2.4 goals per game and drawing sell-out crowds across North America. Merchandise sales featuring Lionel Messi have broken club records, while MLS Season Pass subscriptions continue to spike whenever Miami features in national windows.

Tactical tweaks fueling the Argentine

Miami’s success is not solely star-powered hype. Martino has shifted to a 4-3-1-2 shape that frees Lionel Messi to roam between the lines. With rising talents like Segovia and Allende stretching defenses and Sergio Busquets anchoring midfield, Messi finds ample pockets to dictate tempo. According to Opta data, he leads MLS in progressive passes per 90 (10.7) and shot-creating actions per 90 (9.3), illustrating a creative influence that extends beyond pure finishing.

Comparing award seasons: 2023 vs. 2025

During his debut half-season in 2023, Lionel Messi collected six Matchday awards. In 2025, he has already amassed three by early July, projecting to eclipse that previous high if his fitness cooperates. The league’s defensive coordinators are throwing varied looks—tight markers, low blocks, aggressive pressing—but each scheme has, so far, proved only partially effective.

Ripple effects across CF Montréal and the Eastern race

For Montréal, the defeat stops a promising three-match unbeaten run and leaves them clinging to the final playoff berth. Coach Laurent Courtois admitted his side “lost our structure” once Lionel Messi began threading passes. Eastern rivals such as Cincinnati and Columbus, both within striking distance of Miami, will be analyzing this tape for clues on slowing the Herons’ attack.

Schedule ahead: can Lionel Messi keep the pace?

A quick turnaround awaits. Inter Miami travel to Foxborough to face the New England Revolution on July 9, then host Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on July 12, before a marquee clash with rivals Orlando City. Sports-science staff have carefully managed Lionel Messi’s minutes, substituting him in seven of 14 appearances, and that load management will be critical with Leagues Cup fixtures looming in August.

Legacy watch: rewriting MLS record books

If form holds, the Argentine could challenge Carlos Vela’s single-season goal contribution record of 49 (set in 2019). He is also on pace to lead MLS in both goals and assists, a feat accomplished only twice in league history. Every additional Matchday trophy inches Lionel Messi toward Landon Donovan’s career record of 14, a milestone previously thought untouchable given Donovan’s decade-long domestic tenure.

Commercial boom continues

Apple and MLS reported a 21% surge in global viewership for Matchday 22, largely attributed to Miami’s primetime slot. Ticket-resale platforms listed upper-deck seats in Montréal at an average of $379—triple the pre-Messi era price. Local businesses echoed the windfall, citing a “Messi effect” that packed bars and restaurants hours before kickoff.

What fans said

Social media buzzed with comparisons to Messi’s famous 2007 Copa del Rey goal against Getafe. Former U.S. international Clint Dempsey chimed in on the MLS Season Pass broadcast: “You pay a ticket to see moments like that. It’s art.” Even Montréal supporters offered reluctant applause, acknowledging a stroke of genius seldom witnessed live.

Opinion: savor the spectacle while it lasts

There is an understandable temptation to normalize what Lionel Messi delivers every week. Yet normalization should not dull appreciation. MLS has never showcased a talent of this magnitude in his prime’s twilight, still ruthless, still inventive, still capable of turning a game with one shimmy. Whether you bleed pink-and-black or begrudgingly admire from afar, every match feels like another chapter of a football memoir being penned in real time. My take? Clear your calendar, adjust your sleep schedule, and watch—because the league may wait decades for another virtuoso of this caliber.