Lionel Messi becomes MLS top scorer: How many times has Cristiano Ronaldo topped the charts?

Inter Miami closed the MLS regular season on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC. At the final whistle Lionel Messi has secured the competition’s Golden Boot, something he has achieved several times in his career, as Christiano Ronaldo.

Over the course of the 2025 campaign Messi scored 29 goals in 28 games for Inter Miami. Standing behind him Denis Bouanga of Los Angeles FC (24) and Sam Surridge from Nashville SC-who also scored against the Herons, scoring 24 goals.

However, Messi’s contribution was not limited to just goals. He also finished the season leading the league in assists, with 19, giving him a total of 48 goals – a staggering figure that reflects the Argentine star’s dominance in MLS.

Finishing as MLS top scorer is a special milestone for Messi as it is the first time he has done so outside the club. Barcelona. Not even in his two years Paris Saint Germain nor had he achieved that feat in his previous two seasons with the Herons.

How many times has Messi been top scorer in a competition?

This year at Inter Miami, Lionel Messi became top scorer in a national competition for the ninth time in his career. The previous eight all came during his legendary spell at Barcelona, ​​where he spent seventeen seasons between his debut in 2004 and his departure to France in 2021.

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The first time Messi led The League in goals was in the 2009–10 season, when he scored 34 goals at the age of 23. He repeated this feat two years later in 2011–12 (50 goals) and again in 2012–13 (46).

The Argentine forward then went four seasons without topping the scoring charts in Spain. But when he returned to the top, he did something remarkable: he finished as La Liga’s top scorer for five consecutive seasons: 2016–17 (37 goals), 2017–18 (34), 2018–19 (36), 2019–20 (25) and 2020–21 (30).

How many times has Cristiano Ronaldo been the league’s top scorer?

Throughout his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the scoring charts in every competition he has played in – at least once – something Messi failed to achieve during his time at League 1 with PSG. Still, the Argentine forward has the lead in the total number of Golden Boots: Messi has finished as top scorer nine times, while Cristiano has done so seven times.

Ronaldo’s first came with Manchester Unitedwhen he headed the Premier League in 2007-2008 with 31 goals. Bee Real Madridhe repeated the feat three times The League: 2010–11 (40 goals), 2013–14 (31) and 2014–15 (48).

After leaving Spain, CR7 joined another European superpower:Juventus– and at the top of the Series A scoring chart in 2020–21 with 29 goals. Play now Al Nassrhe has continued to break records, finishing as the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League he played in both full seasons: 35 goals in 2023-2024 and 25 in 2024-2025.