Lionel Messi has been awarded the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, following an exceptional season that saw him captain Inter Miami CF to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield title and set a new MLS single-season points record of 74.
Messi’s impact was undeniable, finishing the season with 36 goal contributions—20 goals and 16 assists—despite playing just 19 matches (1,485 minutes) due to injuries and commitments with the Copa América.
His 36 goal contributions led the league, and his per-90-minute average of 2.18 set a new MLS record. Messi scored or assisted in 15 of his 19 appearances, including multiple goal contributions in 11 games.
His presence was a game-changer for Miami, who lost just one match with Messi in the lineup, posting a 12-1-6 record and averaging 2.68 goals per game. The team also became the first in MLS history to secure at least 11 wins both at home and on the road in a single season.
Messi’s 2024 performance joins an elite group, as he became the third player in MLS history to score at least 20 goals and provide 15 assists in a single season, following Carlos Vela (2019 LAFC) and Sebastian Giovinco (2015 Toronto FC).
The MLS MVP award, which has been presented annually since 1996, is determined by a poll of players, technical staff, and media to recognize the player most valuable to his team. Messi, the fifth Argentine to win the award, triumphed over Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández for the honor. This marks Messi’s first full MLS season after joining Inter Miami in July 2023.
