Lionel Messi’s dominance in the 2026 regular season has driven overwhelming trader consensus for a third straight Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. The Inter Miami forward captured his second consecutive Golden Boot with a league-high 26 goals in 31 matches, adding 16–17 assists for roughly 42–43 goal contributions while leading in expected goals plus assists and goals-added metrics. He became the first player to repeat as top scorer and previously won back-to-back MVPs in 2024–25, with Inter Miami securing second place in the Eastern Conference. Other candidates such as Petar Musa, Sam Surridge, Evander, and Anders Dreyer trail significantly in production and advanced stats. Late injuries, a surprising playoff collapse that sways voters toward team success, or an unprecedented shift in voting patterns remain the only realistic paths to an upset.