Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
The MLS Cup is about to be determined this Saturday between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New York Purple Bulls. Nevertheless, the league has already topped its particular person champion, as Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was named the 2024 MLS Most Invaluable Participant after a rare season.
After becoming a member of the league in mid-2023, Messi performed his first full MLS season in 2024. Regardless of being restricted to simply 22 appearances attributable to worldwide duties and an ankle harm sustained within the Copa América remaining, the Argentine legend delivered an astonishing 36 objective contributions—20 objectives and 16 assists—throughout the common season and playoffs.
With these numbers, Messi joins MLS greats Sebastian Giovinco and Carlos Vela as the one gamers in league historical past to document at the very least 20 objectives and 15 assists in a single season. The award was offered in entrance of Inter Miami’s academy gamers, the place Messi shared an inspiring message.
“It’s actually an honor to obtain this award with all of you. Wathcing you practice fill me with satisfaction. I’m so completely happy to be right here day by day, on this metropolis, at this membership that’s rising and evolving. I encourage you to maintain preventing and chasing your desires,” stated Messi to the academy after receiving the award.
Whereas Inter Miami fell brief within the playoffs towards Atlanta United, Messi was instrumental in serving to the membership safe its first-ever trophy, the 2024 Supporters’ Defend. The group additionally set a brand new document for probably the most factors in an everyday MLS season with 74, surpassing the New England Revolution’s 2021 mark of 73.
Messi leads 2024 MLS MVP race
The competitors for this yr’s MVP title was fierce, with standout performances from the league’s prime scorer Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Evander (Portland Timbers), Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernández (Columbus Crew), and Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.
Messi finally claimed the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award with 38.43% of the votes, narrowly edging out Hernandez, who garnered 33.70%. Benteke, Evander, and Suarez rounded out the highest 5 however didn’t surpass the ten% threshold.
Messi’s season included six MLS Participant of the Week honors and two Participant of the Month awards, making him the primary Inter Miami participant to win the league’s MVP title. Moreover, he turns into the fourth Argentine to obtain this distinction, becoming a member of Christian Gomez, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Diego Valeri, and final yr’s winner, Luciano Acosta.
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