Lionel Messi favored to win first MLS Golden Boot award

What: 2025 MLS Golden Boot Picks
The annual award is presented to the top goal scorer in Major League Soccer's regular season
The MLS season runs from February to October, 2025

Lionel Messi captured a record six European Golden Shoe awards during his legendary career. Now tied with Sam Surridge for the most goals in Major League Soccer, the 38-year-old Argentinian has a shot to add a Golden Boot to his trophy case this season.

Let's look at the latest betting lines to see what players have a chance at the scoring championship. Odds are subject to change.

MLS Golden Boot
Lionel Messi	+125	+125	+125
Sam Surridge	+250	+250	+250
Dejan Joveljic	+1100	+1100	+1100
Evander Ferreira	+1200	+1200	+1200
Hugo Cuypers	+1200	+1200	+1200
Ahoueke Denkey	+1400	+1400	+1400
Tai Baribo	+1600	+1600	+1600
Denis Bouanga	+2000	+2000	+2000
Diego Rossi	+2000	+2000	+2000
Eric Choupo-Moting	+2000	+2000	+2000
Anders Dreyer	+2200	+2200	+2200
Brian White	+2500	+2500	+2500
Cristian Arango	+2800	+2800	+2800
Hany Mukhtar	+3300	+3300	+3300
Alonso Martinez	+5000	+5000	+5000

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Messi favored for Golden Boot

Lionel Messi is a slight +125 favorite to win the league scoring title. After setting a new MLS record with goals in five straight games, the Argentinian legend is tied with Sam Surridge atop the Golden Boot race. Messi notched 16 goals in just 15 starts, compared to 16 in 21 appearances for the Nashville FC forward.

The Inter Miami star missed two weeks with an abductor strain in March. While he's healthy and firing on all cylinders now, the 38-year-old has a greater chance of being hurt or rested down the stretch versus the 26-year-old Surridge.

Will any of these Lionel Messi records ever be broken? 🐐 pic.twitter.com/sT5MYWFBkU

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 15, 2025

Surridge has a shot

Sam Surridge (+250) hasn't scored in his past two contests, but he had 10 goals in his previous five games. The English striker has two braces this season, one hat-trick and a haul, bulging the twine four times versus Chicago in late April.

While Surridge only has 12 matches left on the schedule, Messi's Inter Miami squad has 15 games remaining.

Longshot contenders

Dejan Joveljic (+1100) sits three goals back of Messi and Surridge in the Golden Boot race. However, the center-forward has heated up of late with 8 goals in his past nine contests. Combining physicality and finishing ability with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, Jovelic's stats are incredible given Sporting Kansas City's miserable 6-5-11 record.

Evander (+1200) has six snipes in his last four games after failing to score in six straight. The skilled Cincinnati midfielder has his club in a top-two position in the Eastern Conference. His teammate Kévin Denkey sits just one goal back of him with 12.

We're not surprised 😏

Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar have been named 2025 MLS All-Stars ⭐

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 15, 2025

2025 MLS Golden Boot Picks

Tied for the league lead in goals with three more games left to play than Surridge, Lionel Messi is in prime position to capture the scoring title if he can stay healthy. And since it's no fun to hope for a soccer god to get hurt, we'll pick Messi to win his first MLS Golden Boot award.

Lionel Messi to win MLS Golden Boot

+125

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