Lionel Messi has once again added to his already glorious career by winning the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The announcement came on Friday and follows a brilliant debut MLS season by Messi, in which he led Inter Miami to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield as the best regular-season team in the league.
A Debut Season Record-Breaking Messi arrived at Inter Miami in July 2023, and electrified the Campaign in his first full season in Major League Soccer, scoring 20 goals and registering 16 assists in only 19 matches, before leading the club to a regular-season record of 74 points. Miami had a very disappointing first-round playoff exit despite all their successes.
In the award reflections, Messi stated mixed feelings at the MVP Festival: “I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the final on Saturday.” “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.”
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Setting Records with Inter Miami At 37, Messi is now the first in Inter Miami’s history to claim the most highly coveted individual accolade of the league. This award, which was renamed in 2015 after MLS great Landon Donovan, adds to Messi’s already lengthy list of accolades that includes a World Cup title and a record eight Ballon d’Or trophies.
Messi’s stunning season has made him one of a select few. He became only the third player in the history of the MLS to score at least 20 goals along with 15 assists in the same season, joining Mexico’s Carlos Vela (2019) and Italy’s Sebastian Giovinco (2015).
Award Competition MVP was an award that went to Lionel Messi for a strong competition. He beat Columbus Crew striker Cucho Hernandez, Portland Timbers midfielder Evander, D.C. United’s Christian Benteke, and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.
Looking Forward Although this season finished with heartbreak in the playoffs, Messi’s greatness generated even more hype for what would come next in 2025. Leading the charge for Inter Miami, Messi will help try to bring the team’s regular-season mastery to fruition in the playoffs to have another shot at the MLS Cup next year while also making a name for itself in the Club World Cup.