New Delhi: Lionel Messi, the football icon has won yet another award, as the Argentina international was officially chosen the 2024 Landon Donovan Major League Soccer (MLS) Most Valuable Player on Friday. After having a tremendous season with Inter Miami, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner won his first MLS MVP title. In just 20 games during the regular season, the 37-year-old scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists for the Herons. It was the fifth-highest single-season total in league history, with 36 goal contributions.
Messi helped Inter Miami reach a record-setting 74 points throughout the regular season. When Messi was in the lineup, Inter Miami had 12 victories, 6 draws, and 1 loss, with only one defeat. Since 1996, the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award has been given to the player who is deemed most useful to his team by a survey of players, club technical staff, and the media.
Messi’s unbelievable season in MLS
🚨🇺🇸 OFFICIAL: Leo Messi wins the MLS Player of the Year, he’s the MVP for this season. pic.twitter.com/02dptJLuQN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 6, 2024
In this year’s MLS MVP competition, Messi defeated Columbus Crew striker Cucho Hernandez to become the fifth Argentine to win the honor. Messi, who signed with Miami in July 2023, received the honor during his first complete season in Major League Soccer. With a final score of 38.43 percent, Messi took home the prize, while Cucho, who came in second with 33.70 percent, was left out.
Messi set an MLS record by averaging 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes during a season that broke all previous records with Miami. Inter Miami dominated the regular season, but they were unable to find success in the postseason. With a 2-1 best-of-three series loss, Inter Miami lost to Atlanta United in the opening round.
In the upcoming season, Messi will rejoin his former Barca team-mates Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez in Major League Soccer. After Tata Martino resigned, the team announced that Javier Mascherano, a former FC Barcelona player, would take over as head coach.
The Argentine Icon, Lionel Messi adds yet another achievement to his massive tally, as he has won Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
