Lionel Messi holds an overwhelming edge in the MLS Golden Boot race as the league’s leading goal scorer with 21 tallies through late September, well ahead of Petar Musa, Brian White, and Milan Iloski. His consistent output across multiple high-volume seasons, including a 29-goal campaign in 2025, combined with Inter Miami’s attacking system and supporting cast featuring Luis Suárez, has driven trader consensus toward heavy favoritism. Recent form, including goals in consecutive matches and strong shot volume, reinforces the implied probability. Challengers would need sustained multi-goal hauls in the remaining regular-season fixtures while Messi experiences significant downtime or a sharp decline, outcomes that remain possible in a short window but face steep barriers given the current three-goal cushion and his historical reliability in similar situations.