Lionel Messi crowned MLS MVP for 2024 season
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been voted as Major League Soccer’s MVP for the 2024 season.
It was the 37-year-old’s first full season at the U.S. club, whom he joined as a free agent from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023.
Messi scored 21 goals across 22 league appearances — of which 18 were starts — for Inter Miami, who won the Supporters Shield but were eliminated from the play-offs by Atlanta United in November.
The MVP award is voted on by MLS players, club management and media figures, and is annually awarded to the player who is considered to be the most valuable in the league for that season. Since 2015, the award has been named after former USMNT star Landon Donovan.
“It’s truly an honour to receive this award,” Messi said. “I’m so happy to be here every day in this city, at this club that is growing and evolving.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber said of the Inter Miami star: “Everybody that loves the game are honoured to have Messi in this league. The best player in the world to be in MLS is something that dreams are made of.”
Messi’s triumph is the first time that an Inter Miami player has won the award, with his Argentinean compatriot Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati winning the crown last season.
The greatest ever has done it again. 👑
Lionel Messi is the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP. pic.twitter.com/Ej2s9rJcO9
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 6, 2024
Outside of U.S. players (eight awards), Argentina is now the second most successful nation in the award with five different winners: Messi and Acosta followed on from Christian Gomez (D.C. United, 2006), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew, 2008) and Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers, 2017).
This latest honour adds to the plethora of Messi’s personal awards, having won eight Ballon d’Or crowns (the most prestigious individual annual award in football), nine La Liga Player of the Season awards and 16 Argentine Footballer of the Year trophies.
‘Diminished yet still dominant’
Analysis from Felipe Cardenas
You’re not surprised are you? Arguably the greatest player of all time has been named MLS’ best player in 2024. And Messi didn’t need a full season to claim the award.
International duty and a painful ankle injury kept the Argentina captain from playing in all 34 of Miami’s regular season matches. His 19 appearances were, honestly, dominant.
Messi has lost a step, but his cerebral approach to the game is intact. His finishing ability isn’t at the peak Barcelona levels, but it’s still damn good.
His numbers were on par or better than the other MVP finalists. You may not agree with the math, but Messi was far and away the right choice in 2024.
(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)