News Summary
With Decision Day nearing, Lionel Messi leads the race for the MLS MVP with 26 goals and 18 assists. However, he faces stiff competition from players like Sam Surridge and Denis Bouanga. As the regular season wraps up, the stakes are high for these standout athletes, each vying for top honors in the league’s final matches.
Miami, FL – The final countdown for the 2025 Landon Donovan MLS MVP race is underway as Decision Day approaches on October 18, 2025. Leading the charge is Lionel Messi, who is having a historic season with a league-best 26 goals and a tie for the assists lead with Anders Dreyer, boasting 18 assists. Messi’s remarkable performance has accumulated a total of 44 goal contributions, placing him just five shy of Carlos Vela’s single-season record of 49.
Recently, Messi showcased his elite form during a 3–0 victory against Atlanta United, where he scored two goals and provided one assist. He opened the scoring in the 39th minute and added a second goal in the 87th minute. These contributions were pivotal in helping Inter Miami progress in the playoffs, with their title chase set to begin on October 22.
While Messi is in a strong position for the MVP award, he faces significant competition from other prominent players in Major League Soccer (MLS). Sam Surridge, playing for Nashville SC, leads the scoring chart with 29 goals in 36 games this season and has been instrumental in guiding his team to its first-ever title, the US Open Cup. Surridge’s league tally stands at 23 goals, marking an impressive scoring record for the striker.
Competing for attention is Denis Bouanga of LAFC, who has netted 24 goals this season, including 10 in his last six matches. Bouanga has carved out a place in the record books as the first player in MLS history to record three consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals. Additionally, Anders Dreyer, who has earned a spot among the league’s top performers with 35 total goal contributions (17 goals and 18 assists), is also a frontrunner for the Newcomer of the Year award.
In the mix is FC Cincinnati’s Evander, who has a notable combined total of 32 goals and 33 assists over the past two seasons. His contributions bolster his MVP candidacy, alongside Martin Ojeda of Orlando City, who has also made significant impacts this season with 25 direct goal involvements (16 goals and 9 assists). However, it is the standout performances of Messi, Surridge, Bouanga, and Dreyer that dominate the league’s discussions as Decision Day nears.
Messi is seeking to make history himself by winning the MVP award for the second consecutive year, which would establish him as the first player to achieve this milestone. The Golden Boot race is tightly contested as well, with Bouanga and Surridge closely trailing behind Messi. All attention will be on their final matches as they look to enhance their accolades as the regular season comes to a close.
Messi’s influence is also seen off the pitch as his success has resonated with his teammates, including Jordi Alba, who recently announced his retirement from professional soccer. Notably, Messi has one final match against Nashville SC that could potentially improve his chances for both the Golden Boot and the MVP title.
The intensity of the league’s competitive landscape is heightened with several standout players vying for top honors. With the regular season wrapping up and postseason play on the horizon, the stage is set for a thrilling finish to the 2025 MLS season. All eyes will be on the performances of these elite athletes as they push for individual and team glory during a momentous Decision Day.
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Additional Resources
- MLS Soccer: MVP Power Rankings – Lionel Messi
- Sports Illustrated: Messi Takes Golden Boot Lead
- MLS Soccer: Decision Day – 10 Players Who Will Decide the Drama
- Philadelphia Union: Tai Baribo Makes History in MVP Performance
- USA Today: NYCFC vs Inter Miami – Will Messi Play?
- Wikipedia: 2025 Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award
- Google Search: MLS MVP 2025
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
- Google News: MLS 2025
- Google Scholar: MLS MVP History
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