Messi Again Player of Matchday in MLS

NEW YORK (Monday, June 2, 2025) – Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 17 of the 2025 MLS season.

The Argentine legend takes home back-to-back Player of the Matchday honors after his two goals and three assists powered Miami to a 5-1 victory against the Columbus Crew. With his performance, Messi became the second player in league history to record multiple games with at least five goal contributions, following his one-goal, five-assist showing against the New York Red Bulls last season (joining Diego Rossi, three goals and two assists vs. Real Salt Lake in 2018 and four goals and one assist vs. LA Galaxy in 2020). The reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP is just the third player in league history to score twice and log three assists in a single match. Messi now leads the league with 16 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) this season, including five goals and four assists during Miami’s current three-game unbeaten streak. 

After going six matches without a victory in all competitions, Inter Miami is heating up with two resounding wins fueled by Messi’s strong showings. The Herons are now third in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the Supporters’ Shield race, jumping the Crew with Saturday’s victory. Miami is gaining momentum just as it prepares to take on some of the world’s best teams at the newly-expanded FIFA Club World Cup, kicking off the competition with the tournament-opening match against Al Ahly (Egypt) at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida on Saturday, June 14 (8:00 p.m. ET, DAZN.com).

The legendary forward got things started quickly for Miami on Saturday night, lifting a ball over the entire Columbus defense from midfield to the streaking Tadeo Allende, who ripped a shot past Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen for the game’s opening goal in the 13^th. The second came just two minutes later when some opportunistic pressing by Miami forced an errant pass from Hagen that Messi collected at the top of the box before looping a shot over the ‘keeper’s outstretched arm for his first of the evening. His second tally came on another lovely lofted ball downfield, this time from longtime teammate Sergio Busquets. The midfielder sent a pass over the top of the defense to meet Messi on a well-timed run and he played it over Hagen again from 16 yards out to bag his brace (Watch Here ). The onslaught continued after the half, as Messi helped tee up the fourth tally in the 64thminute. On the run downfield, the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion received the ball just inside the box and centered it to Telasco Segovia. The midfielder found Luis Suárez lurking just outside the six to slot it home. Messi put an exclamation point on the proceedings in the 89^th with another long ball, sending one deep for Fafà Picault dashing downfield before beating Hagen one-on-one to secure the 5-1 victory for Miami.    

Messi becomes the first player to win back-to-back Player of the Matchday awards this season and second to win twice in 2025, joining Philadelphia Union forward Tai Baribo. Last week, the Argentine put up two goals and an assist in a 4-2 win against CF Montréal. This week marks his eighth award overall after earning Player of the Matchday honors six times in 2024, becoming the third player in league history to do so during his first full season with Inter Miami.

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an Instagram fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.