25. MLS Matchday Recap: Scores, Standings Shake-Up & Must-See Highlights

The 2025 Major League Soccer season is hitting full stride, and the league is enjoying unprecedented momentum driven by star power, record-breaking attendance, and a streaming boom that is rewriting how North American fans consume soccer. H2: Messi Effect 2.0 – Bigger Crowds, Bigger Numbers Lionel Messi’s second year with Inter Miami CF has pushed MLS demand to new heights. Ticket agencies report that average resale prices for Inter Miami away games are up 38 percent versus 2024, and the club has already sold out every match at DRV PNK Stadium through August. League-wide, average attendance sits at 24,900, the highest mid-season mark in MLS history and a 9 percent jump year over year. H2: Goal-Scoring Frenzy Fuels Standings Shake-Up • Golden Boot race: Messi (14 goals) leads Cucho Hernández (11) and Denis Bouanga (10). • Surprise contenders: Charlotte FC tops the Eastern Conference after a seven-match unbeaten run. • Defending champs: Columbus Crew are within two points of first despite a Champions Cup schedule crunch. The league’s new attacking mindset—helped by a reduced off-season and more Designated Player signings—has pushed goals per game to 3.12, an MLS record through 15 matchdays. H2: Apple TV+ Season Pass Surges With Free Trials and T-Mobile Promo MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ has eclipsed 3 million global subscribers, buoyed by a fresh 30-day free-trial offer and the return of T-Mobile’s annual giveaway. Viewers now get: • Multi-view on iPad and Apple TV hardware • Spanish-language home radio feeds for every club • Enhanced data overlays featuring xG, progressive passes, and sprint speed The platform’s expanded analytics are keeping casual fans engaged longer and generating viral social clips, a core driver of Google searches around “how to watch MLS free,” “MLS streaming numbers,” and “MLS Apple stats.” H2: 2025 Salary Release Adds Transparency—and Talking Points The MLS Players Association’s spring salary dump sparked headlines when it revealed: • Inter Miami’s wage bill: $115 million, more than double the next-closest club • Average guaranteed compensation: $620,250, up 4.4 percent from 2024 • Young DP bargains: St. Louis City SC midfielder Célio Pompeu earns just $725,000 while contributing five assists Fans searching “MLS salaries 2025” and “Messi MLS contract details” spiked 280 percent during release week, underscoring growing curiosity about league economics. H2: Expansion and Stadium Pipeline Keeps Growth Narrative Alive San Diego FC debuts next year, and MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league is “actively evaluating” Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix for slots 31 and 32. Meanwhile: • Kansas City’s soccer-specific downtown stadium breaks ground in July • New York City FC’s Willets Point venue clears its final zoning hurdle These projects reinforce MLS’s strategy of urban stadiums with concert-ready infrastructure, unlocking year-round revenue streams beyond matchdays. H2: Key Dates Fans Are Googling Now • Leagues Cup group stage: July 25 – August 10 • All-Star Game vs. Liga MX All-Stars: July 16, Lower.com Field, Columbus • MLS Transfer Window: June 24 – August 2 • Decision Day: October 5 Each milestone generates recurring spikes in “MLS schedule,” “Leagues Cup tickets,” and “MLS transfer rumors,” offering clubs and content creators fresh SEO hooks. H2: What to Watch the Rest of 2025 1. Can Inter Miami maintain form once CONCACAF Champions Cup travel ends? 2. Will Charlotte FC convert early momentum into its first playoff run? 3. Could the summer window deliver another global superstar alongside Messi? 4. How will the revamped best-of-three Wild Card round impact postseason drama? H2: Bottom Line With star wattage, streaming innovations, and a relentless expansion drumbeat, MLS is capitalizing on soccer’s surging popularity in North America. As the 2025 campaign progresses, expect “MLS standings,” “Messi goals,” and “Apple Season Pass” to remain top Google searches—and for Major League Soccer to keep converting that search traffic into record-setting engagement both on and off the pitch.