Lionel Messi has been nominated for the 2024 MLS MVP award, joining 22 other players, including his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez, Soccernet.football reports.
Messi, who missed out on the award last season, is now the frontrunner for this year’s top honour after a remarkable campaign in the United States.
Despite missing several matches due to an ankle injury, Messi has delivered an impressive 17 goals and 10 assists in just 18 regular-season games. Only four players have outscored the Argentine star, including Suarez, who netted 18 goals in his first season with Miami.
Messi has also exceeded expectations statistically, scoring 17 goals from an expected goals (xG) value of 10.92. This puts him alongside Suarez and New York City’s Alonso Martinez as the players who have overperformed their xG by the highest margins.
Suarez, who is in the race for the league’s Golden Boot, is also a contender for the Newcomer of the Year award, a title Messi won last season.
Meanwhile, Messi has penned a touching tribute to his former Barcelona teammate, Andres Iniesta, who announced his retirement from professional football.
Sharing numerous successful seasons with Iniesta at Barcelona, Messi expressed his admiration:
“One of the team-mates with the most magic and of the ones I enjoyed playing together the most. Andres Iniesta, the ball will miss you and so will we! I wish you the best, always. You are a phenomenon,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
Messi and Iniesta formed one of the most iconic partnerships in football, winning multiple Champions League and La Liga titles together at Barcelona. Although there were rumours of a reunion at Inter Miami, it never materialised.
As Messi leads the MVP race, Inter Miami have already secured the Supporters’ Shield and is preparing for the MLS Cup playoffs, with their first match scheduled for October 25.