Lionel Messi is the first back-to-back winner of the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, the latest achievement in a season in which he was named the MLS Cup MVP as he led Inter Miami to its first league title.

Messi notched a pair of assists as Miami beat the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday to win the MLS Cup. Messi played a crucial role in the win, setting up Rodrigo de Paul in the 71st minute and Tadeo Allende in second-half stoppage time.

The 38-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner finished the playoffs with a single postseason record of 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists). He registered at least one goal or assist in all six of Miami’s playoff matches while easily posting an MLS record for goal contributions in one season.

With 29 goals and 19 assists, Messi was one goal contribution shy of the league-record 49 set by Los Angeles FC legend Carlos Vela in 2019.

The Argentinian also became the first player in MLS history to record 10 multi-goal matches in a season.

He joins legendary Serbian player Preki (1997, 2003 with Kansas City) as the only players to win the league’s MVP award twice.

–Field Level Media