777win Inter Miami Talisman Lionel Messi Wins Major League Soccer MVP Award
Inter Miami academy players line up in the MVP formation for Lionel Messi. Photo: X/Inter Miami CF Inter Miami academy players line up in the MVP formation for Lionel Messi. Photo: X/Inter Miami CF 
Rarely does Lionel Messi step on a football field and have no idea of what's happening. There they were, more than 250 Inter Miami academy players in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a number of kids lined up at midfield in a formation that spelt out the letters 'MVP'. And when the Argentine superstar saw his children, he realized they were holding a trophy. (More Football News)
That is how Messi got to know he was Major League Soccer's (MLS) best player in 2024. Messi has been deemed the most valuable player in MLS, even after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami's 34 regular-season matches owing to injuries or commitments to Argentina's national team.
Introducing the 2024 Landon Donovan @MLS Most Valuable Player - Leo Messi 🏆 Inspirando a la @InterMiamiAcad dentro y fuera de la cancha ✨ pic.twitter.com/UQGnCb41Ht
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) December 6, 2024He factored into a league-high 36 goals — scoring 20, assisting on 16 others — for the highest rate per 90 minutes in MLS history. “Truly, it is an honour for me to receive this award from all of you,” an Associated Press report quoted Messi as telling the academy players.
MLS unveiled the voting results on Friday (December 6, 2024). Messi trumped Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez for the honour, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. The club voters preferred Hernandez over Messi by a slight margin; Messi was the choice of 41% of players and 43% of the media.
“Unless you're living in the world of global football, it's hard to imagine the overall appeal and the massive popularity and stardom that Leo Messi has,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who was also at Inter Miami's stadium for the surprise MVP presentation that occurred Wednesday night. “I mean, he is Michael Jackson meeting Taylor Swift — and he's playing in our league.”
Messi ended up with 38.4% of the average vote, while Hernandez got 33.7%. Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (9.2%), DC United's Christian Benteke (7.1%), and Messi's Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez (2.2%) rounded out the top five in the voting.
The 37-year-old Messi's victory capped a 2024 campaign where he led Inter Miami to the Supporters Shield and the best regular season record in MLS history, apart from leading Argentina to a Copa America title. Inter Miami were knocked out in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs.
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Named after Landon Donovan, the MLS MVP is yet another entry on the swelling list of career accolades for Messi. He's an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, eight-time FIFA Player of the Year winner, a seven-time Spanish League MVP, former UEFA Player of the Year, past Champions League Player of the Season, World Cup Golden Ball winner, Club World Cup Golden Ball winner, and the list goes on and on and on from there.
Some of the academy players had the privilege to address Messi at the trophy presentation, telling him why he's their MVP. “Hi Leo, you are my MVP because you have been my idol since I was a child and seeing you here in person every day is truly incredible,” Inter Miami under-19 player Victor Fung told him. “Thank you for giving us so many unforgettable memories ... thank you for everything.”
Messi stunned many in the football world when he picked Inter Miami last year, turning the franchise into one of the game's biggest brands almost overnight. Winning the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi arrived gave Inter Miami their first trophy, and his No. 10 jersey has been MLS' biggest seller from basically the moment that the most decorated player ever picked Miami.
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The 37-year-old Messi is under contract through the end of the 2025 season and Inter Miami have made no secret that they want him to remain into at least 2026 — when the club plans to open a new stadium near Miami International Airport.
“I'd love to see Leo be a part of our league for the rest of time," Garber said. "I chatted with his wife (Wednesday) night and I said hi to his kids. They seem very happy here. That's a good thing. To see a player and their family actually happy is what it's all about.”
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas was earlier asked how he feels about the club's unprecedented investment — Messi's contract with the team is worth at least USD 150 million in total value, and his annual MLS salary is more than some entire MLS team payrolls combined — has worked out so far.
“Just one word," Mas said, proceeding to use more than one. "It's been an amazing run and there's more to come.”
(With AP inputs)777win