MIAMI: Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi won his second consecutive MLS Golden Boot award on Saturday after the defending champions finished second in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the regular season.
The Argentine superstar did not score but set up the first two goals at Miami’s Nu Stadium, both from corners, helping secure home-field advantage for his club in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Messi’s 26 goals this season were enough to make him the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. Petar Musa of Dallas finished second with 22 goals, having failed to score in his club’s 3-1 home victory over Colorado.
Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul scored three first-half goals for Inter Miami before Liel Abada’s brace soon after the break began a comeback that was completed by Rodolfo Aloko’s late strike.
