Lionel Messi was named winner of the Landon Donovan MVP Award for the 2024 MLS season Friday, beating out Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández, Portland Timbers’ Evander, Christian Benteke from D.C. United and his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.
Messi, 37, gained because of his 20 objectives and 16 appearances in simply 19 matches.
He joins Carlos Vela in 2019 (LAFC, 34 objectives, 15 assists) and Sebastian Giovinco in 2015 (Toronto FC, 22 objectives, 16 assists) as the one gamers in league historical past with not less than 20 objectives and 15 assists in a single season.
The MVP award is decided by a ballot that features gamers, membership technical workers and chosen members of the media. Messi obtained 38.43% of the votes averaged in comparison with second-place finisher Benteke (33.70%).
This was his first full season with the membership, having joined in July 2023.
MLS commissioner Don Garber made the announcement Friday alongside Inter Miami Academy college students and Messi’s three sons in a video with the membership.
“Actually, it’s an honor for me to obtain this award from all of you,” Messi mentioned to the Academy gamers. “It is a supply of satisfaction to observe you all prepare. I am very pleased to be right here day-after-day. I am very pleased to be on this metropolis, on this Membership that’s rising. It is a pleasure to see you develop day-to-day. I invite you to maintain preventing and striving in your desires.”
The Miami captain gained the award regardless of taking part in in solely 55% of aggressive matches of the 34-game common season. He missed 62 days between June 1 and Sept. 14 with an ankle harm suffered throughout Argentina‘s win over Colombia within the Copa América ultimate.
Throughout this time, the Herons performed properly, successful eight of 9 video games with out him.
The award considers a participant’s contributions and influence on the pitch at a minimal of 1,000 minutes performed within the common season, which is the league requirement for an MVP nomination.
Per FotMob, Messi averaged a couple of objective each 90 minutes, which led the league. In 1,485 minutes, Messi averaged 2.18 objective contributions per match, which is a league file, in accordance with MLS.
His numbers and influence on the pitch helped Inter Miami win the Supporters’ Defend and break the single-season factors file this season with 74 factors. Regardless of its sturdy common season — incomes the No. 1 seed for the postseason — Inter Miami misplaced to Atlanta United within the first spherical of the playoffs, ending their 2024 marketing campaign in a disappointing manner.
In November, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who had taken the teaching position in June of 2023, resigned for private causes. Miami named Javier Mascherano — a former Barcelona and Argentina teammate and pal of Messi — to switch Martino.
The MLS Cup ultimate is on Saturday in Carson, California, the place the LA Galaxy host the New York Crimson Bulls. The Galaxy look to win a file sixth Cup, whereas the Crimson Bulls search their first.
