Is Lionel Messi Still the World's Best Player? A Look at His Dominance in Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi has had an exceptional month, winning his fifth MLS Player of the Month award. He played a significant role in Miami's success, contributing to 10 goals in just three games, including scoring five goals himself. His standout performance was a hat trick against Nashville SC, a top team in the Eastern Conference. Messi's 29 goals this season earned him the MLS Golden Boot award, making him only the third player since 2000 to achieve this feat with an impressive average of 1.03 goals per game. He recently signed a three-year extension with Miami, extending his contract until 2028.
The question arises: Is Messi still the world's best player, or is Major League Soccer still striving to match his level of talent? In Europe, where top players are globally recognized, the MLS players, even those leading the stat sheets, remain relatively unknown outside the league. Despite being an exciting league, with the 2025 season considered one of the best, the presence of a 38-year-old Messi dominating raises questions about the league's progress.
While Messi has been exceptional for Miami, credit also goes to his talented teammates, including Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, who bring experience and skill to the team. Despite the support, Messi's individual achievements are remarkable. He ended the season with 48 goal contributions in just 28 matches, the second-highest in MLS history, achieved in only three seasons. He led the league in both goals and assists, a rare feat, and won three Player of the Month awards in a single season, a record-breaking accomplishment.
As Messi continues to excel in MLS, leading his team into the playoffs, the debate persists: Is Messi still dominating the game at almost 40 years old, or is MLS still striving to match the caliber of players like him?