Frank Christian
Lionel Messi capped off the 2024 MLS regular season in remarkable fashion, helping Inter Miami set a new single-season points record.
Coming off the bench, Messi scored three goals in just 11 minutes during a decisive 6-2 victory against the New England Revolution, bringing Miami’s total to 74 points for the season.
This impressive performance means Messi finishes the season with 20 goals and 16 assists from 19 appearances in the MLS, despite only starting in 15 games due to some fitness challenges.
Though he missed out on the Golden Boot to Christian Benteke, there are questions about whether Messi’s contributions will earn him the title of MLS MVP for 2024.
Did Messi win the MLS MVP in 2024?
Messi’s impressive statistics and his significant influence on both Inter Miami and the league at large make a compelling case for the Landon Donovan MVP Award. His transition to the MLS has solidified his legendary status at the age of 37.
Luis Suarez, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, has also adjusted well to the MLS, scoring two goals and providing two assists against New England, marking his impressive total of 29 goal contributions for the season.
Other contenders for the MVP award include Cucho Hernandez from Columbus Crew and last year’s MVP Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati. Golden Boot winner Benteke and LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig, another former Barcelona player, are also among the 34 shortlisted candidates.
MVP Nominees for 2024: Landon Donovan Award Candidates
- Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
- Cristian Arango (Real Salt Lake)
- Artur (Houston Dynamo)
- Christian Benteke (D.C. United)
- Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC)
- Denis Bouanga (LAFC)
- Roman Burki (St. Louis City)
- Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Evander (Portland Timbers)
- Matt Freese (New York City)
- Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)
- Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
- Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew)
- Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
- Saba Lobjanidze (Atlanta United)
- Hernan Lopez (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Josef Martinez (CF Montreal)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids)
- Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls)
- Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders)
- Rafael Navarro (Colorado Rapids)
- Martin Ojeda (Orlando City)
- Lucas Orellano (FC Cincinnati)
- Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
- Samuel Piette (CF Montreal)
- Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
- Jonathan Rodriguez (Portland Timbers)
- Santiago Rodriguez (New York City)
- Albert Rusnak (Seattle Sounders)
- Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)
- Facundo Torres (Orlando City)
- Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Who selects the MLS MVP?
MLS commenced its Year-End Awards nomination process on September 24, which concluded on October 1.
Voting was open to players, club staff, and media members, including The Sporting News, allowing for selection of one nominee from the 34-player shortlist during the voting period from October 7-21.
As ballots may have already been submitted before Messi’s standout performance on Decision Day, the voting closure was set for October 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
To qualify, players must have logged at least 1,000 minutes in the 2024 MLS season. Messi comfortably met this requirement with a total of 1,486 minutes, despite his time missed due to injuries and international duty.
