{"id":123280,"date":"2024-12-07T20:03:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T20:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/inter-miamis-messi-named-major-league-soccer-mvp"},"modified":"2024-12-07T20:29:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T20:29:48","slug":"inter-miamis-messi-named-major-league-soccer-mvp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/inter-miamis-messi-named-major-league-soccer-mvp","title":{"rendered":"Inter Miami’s Messi named Major League Soccer MVP"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Tanzania. <\/strong><\/span>It was a rare instance of Lionel Messi stepping on a soccer field and having no idea what was happening.<\/p>\n

There they were, more than 250 Inter Miami academy players, a slew of kids lined up at midfield in a formation that spelled out three letters: MVP. And when Messi saw his children, he realized they were holding a trophy.<\/p>\n

That’s how Messi learned he was Major League Soccer’s best player in 2024.<\/p>\n

Messi is the MLS MVP, even after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He factored into a league-high 36 goals \u2014 scoring 20, assisting on 16 others \u2014 for the highest rate per 90 minutes in MLS history.<\/p>\n

\u201cTruly, it is an honor for me to receive this award from all of you,\u201d Messi told the academy players.<\/p>\n

MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Herna\u0301ndez for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. The club voters preferred Herna\u0301ndez over Messi by a slight margin; Messi was the choice of 41% of players and 43% of media.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless you\u2019re living in the world of global football, it\u2019s hard to imagine the overall appeal and the massive popularity and stardom that Leo Messi has,\u201d said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who was also at Inter Miami\u2019s stadium for the surprise MVP presentation that occurred Wednesday night. \u201cI mean, he is Michael Jackson meeting Taylor Swift \u2014 and he\u2019s playing in our league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi wound up with 38.4% of the average vote, while Herna\u0301ndez got 33.7%. Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (9.2%), D.C. United\u2019s Christian Benteke (7.1%), and Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Luis Sua\u0301rez (2.2%) rounded out the top five in the voting.<\/p>\n

Messi’s win capped a 2024 campaign where he led Inter Miami to the Supporters Shield and best regular season record in MLS history, plus captained Argentina to a Copa America title. Inter Miami fell in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the (MLS Cup) final next Saturday,\u201d Messi said. \u201cBut that\u2019s also what football is about, overcoming yourself every day. We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn\u2019t happen, but next year we\u2019ll come back stronger to try again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MLS MVP \u2014 named for Landon Donovan \u2014 is yet another entry on the absurdly long list of career honors 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, past 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.<\/p>\n

Best player ever? It’s tough to argue. Some of the academy players even got to address Messi at the trophy presentation, telling him why he\u2019s their MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi 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,\u201d Inter Miami under-19 player Victor Fung told him. \u201cThank you for giving us so many unforgettable memories… thank you for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi stunned many in the soccer world when he picked Inter Miami last year, instantly turning the franchise into one of the game’s biggest brands. Winning the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi arrived gave Inter Miami its first trophy, and his No. 10 jersey has been MLS’ biggest seller from basically the moment that the most decorated player ever picked Miami.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will say it exceeded my expectations,\u201d Garber said. “I love what it\u2019s done for MLS and I hope Leo stays healthy and is going to be in the league for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old Messi is under contract through the end of the 2025 season, and Inter Miami has made no secret that it wants him to remain into at least 2026 \u2014 when the club plans to open a new stadium near Miami International Airport.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d 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\u2019s a good thing. To see a player and their family actually happy is what it\u2019s all about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas was asked this week how he feels about the club’s unprecedented investment \u2014 Messi’s contract with the team is worth at least $150 million in total value, and his annual MLS salary is more than some entire MLS team payrolls combined \u2014 has worked out so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust one word,” Mas said, perhaps briefly unaware that describing anything about Messi tends to require more than one word. “It\u2019s been an amazing run and there\u2019s more to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Tanzania<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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