Lionel Messi wins Most Valuable Player award after starring in Inter Miami's record-breaking season

Lionel Messi was named the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player in the Major Soccer League (MLS) on Friday at the end of what was his first full season with Inter Miami. The Argentina forward, who had joined the American league in July last year as a free agent, scored 20 goals and had 16 assists in 19 games, helping Inter Miami win their first-ever Supporters’ Shield as the top club at the end of the regular season.

Messi’s red-hot form also played a key role in ‘The Herons’ set a league record of 74 points to finish on top of the Eastern Conference standings. Inter Miami, however, couldn’t go all the way and win their maiden MLS title after a stunning defeat at the hands of Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.

“I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the final (on) Saturday,” Messi said in comments provided by MLS from MVP ceremony.

“We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn’t happen, but next year we’ll come back stronger to try again,” added the star forward, best known for his stint with FC Barcelona that lasted 17 seasons.

It was the latest accolade for Messi, who has won a the Ballon d’Or a record eight times and whose dream of leading Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup finally came true in Qatar in December, 2022.

Messi beat Inter Miami and ex-Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez as well as Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez, Portland Timbers midfielder Evander, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke to the prestigious award, renamed in 2015 after former MVP Donovan who had helped establish the league.

The 37-year-old is the first Argentina to win the top individual honour in the MLS and joins Mexico’s Carlos Vela in 2019 (LAFC, 34 goals, 15 assists) and Italy’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2015 (Toronto FC, 22 goals, 16 assists) as the only players to score at least 20 goals and register 15 assists in an MLS season.