Lionel Messi was nominated Monday for the 2024 MLS MVP award out of 34 players, and the case for winning the award was clear despite having only played half the season.
Messi played in 18 of 33 games (54.5%) for first-place Inter Miami this season, largely due to a right ankle injury that kept him out for two and a half months. But his stats are more than worthy of the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
Only four players have scored more than Messi’s 17 goals, and only two players have scored more than Messi’s 15 assists. Players above him in both categories have played at least eight to 13 more games than Messi this season.
If it were the most efficient player award, Messi would win by a landslide. But the obvious and only argument is that Messi shouldn’t win MVP because other players played more games, and that’s not enough.
Admittedly, the headline “Messi wins MLS MVP despite playing half a season” doesn’t look great without context. But let’s not get confused here. The best player in the world has become the best player in MLS this season.
The idea that MLS MVP should go to a “more deserving” candidate is foolish.
“Messi missed 15 games this season, but his team won more points per game without him. If you vote for Messi for MVP, you’re not a serious person” on Apple TV Analyst and former MLS and USMNT standout Sasha Krizestan said on social media. “Messi the Goat, there’s no debate about that. But he’s not the MVP of MLS in 2024.”
Let’s look at the big picture
Another argument is that Inter Miami played just fine without Messi. Much credit goes to Inter Miami for building perhaps the deepest squad in MLS and keeping the club in contention even in Messi’s absence, but Messi’s presence alone has taken the club from a lower-tier franchise to a world-class team. This is a valuable achievement that has made them the most recognized MLS club in the world.
In Messi’s first full MLS season (apparently), Inter Miami has risen like a meteor from last season’s 27th place out of 29 teams to first place in the league.
Messi scored two goals against Columbus Crew, helping Inter Miami win the MLS Supporters’ Shield. The MLS Supporters’ Shield is a title given to the club with the best record in the league and has earned the No. 1 overall seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin later this month.
And Inter Miami could be remembered as the best regular season club in MLS history if they win the season finale against the New England Revolution on October 19th and increase their points record to 74.
“They’re doing all this while being must-watch MLS soccer,” FOX Sports analyst and former USMNT star Alexi Lalas said on the “State of the Union Podcast” last week. “What they have become, of course, is because of Messi, but the brand, the pink, the worldwide recognition. There’s a lot of hype, but even though we don’t have the whole team together. Regardless, they continue to live up to the hype.”
Compare Messi’s stats with past MLS MVP winners
Messi has contributed 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 goals in the 18 games he has played for Inter Miami, with one game remaining.
Messi’s 32 goal contribution surpasses three of the last four MLS MVPs and ties him with 2017 MVP Diego Valeri. If Messi adds two more goals in the final game of the season, he will be tied with 2022 MVP Hany Mukhtar.
Simply put, Messi’s MVP credentials in the shortened season are on par with past winners.
Why Messi’s MVP case will attract attention on the field in 2024
Who else could win MVP? Crew star Cucho Hernandez is one of them. He, like Messi, has contributed 32 times (19 goals and 13 assists), but he also missed the second penalty that tied the game against Inter Miami last week. Lost to Messi in the biggest game of the MLS season.
Dennis Bouanga has 19 goals and 11 assists (30 goal contributions) for LAFC, which isn’t even the best team in his city or conference, and is looking up to the LA Galaxy.
DC United’s Christian Benteke is certainly a valuable player and could win the Golden Boot award with 23 goals, but despite his outstanding season, his club remains in eighth place. are.
Only two players have contributed more goals than Messi. Lucho Acosta has 33 goals in 31 games for No. 3 Cincinnati, and Evander has 33 goals in 27 games for No. 9 Portland. Acosta won MVP with 31 hits last season.
Messi’s close friend and teammate at Inter Miami, Luis Suarez, certainly has an incident. He has a club-leading 18 goals, seven of which have come in four games without Messi (three games, two games).
ESPN’s Hercules Gomez was also one of the former US soccer stars who appeared in Messi’s MVP corner, and said that Messi’s performance is better than anyone else.
“He led the team to win the silver medal, the Supporters’ Shield, and they will be historic,” Gomez said. “They’re going to make the playoffs, but if he can keep up this rhythm, they might be the best team I’ve ever seen in Major League Soccer with probably the best players I’ve ever played with. I can’t.”
“It’s that simple. I don’t think we need to discuss it here.”
Kudos to Hernandez, Buanga, Benteke, Evandel and Acosta. However, Messi’s efficiency is undeniable, and his MVP award should be as well.