Lionel Messi’s Remarkable MVP Victory
(Illustration by Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports) Lionel Messi’s impact on Major League Soccer (MLS) has been nothing short of revolutionary. Despite missing nearly half of the MLS season due to injury, load management, and international duty, Messi was crowned the 2024 Most Valuable Player (MVP) on Friday. This accolade came in his first full season with Inter Miami, where he edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández in a closely contested vote. Messi’s victory, accumulating 38.4% of the aggregate vote, highlights his unparalleled influence on the field, even in limited appearances.
A Closer Look at the Voting
The MVP voting process is a meticulous affair, with contributions from fellow players, select media members, and club technical staff, each group accounting for 33.3% of the weighted vote. Messi’s broad appeal is evident in his strong showings across all three categories: he won 40.8% of the votes from his fellow players, 43.2% from the media, and 31.3% from club technical staff. Cucho Hernández, who finished second with 33.7% of the votes, was a formidable contender, but Messi’s margin was the thinnest of any MLS MVP over the past decade. Portland Timbers forward Evander finished third with 9.2% of the votes, followed by D.C. United striker Christian Benteke, the league’s top goalscorer, with 7.1%, and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez with 2.2%.
Messi’s Impact in Limited Time
Messi’s MVP win is particularly noteworthy given his limited playing time. He appeared in just 19 of the 34 regular-season games, starting only 15 and logging a mere 47% of available minutes. Yet, in those 19 games, he tallied an impressive 20 goals and 11 assists, including five secondary assists, which MLS counts but most of global soccer does not. This translated to 36 goal contributions, making it the fifth-highest single-season total in league history. His goal contribution rate of 2.2 per 90 minutes is a league record, and even without secondary assists, his rate of 1.87 per 90 minutes is a standout performance, surpassing any other player’s single-season rate in MLS history.
Overcoming Challenges and Critics
Critics of Messi’s MVP candidacy pointed to his frequent absences. He missed time in the spring due to a muscle injury, in June and July while representing Argentina in the Copa América, and in August and September after sustaining an ankle injury in the Copa América final. Some also noted that Inter Miami’s performance was nearly as strong without Messi, averaging 2.13 points per game compared to 2.21 PPG with him. However, Messi’s impact on the team’s overall trajectory is undeniable. Since his arrival in 2023, he has transformed Inter Miami from a struggling team to the league’s best, breaking the MLS single-season points record and clinching the Supporters’ Shield with weeks to spare.
The MVP Reception
Messi was presented with the MVP trophy at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium earlier this week. In a heartwarming video distributed by MLS, he arrived at the stadium to meet MLS commissioner Don Garber and around 100 kids from Inter Miami’s youth teams, all dressed in their vibrant pink kits and chanting "M-V-P." In a brief but heartfelt speech, Messi expressed his gratitude for the award, saying, "I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the [MLS Cup] final [this] Saturday. But that’s also what soccer is about, overcoming yourself every day." He acknowledged the team’s big dream of becoming MLS champions, which did not materialize this year, but promised a stronger return the following season.
A Legacy in the Making
Lionel Messi’s 2024 MVP award is a testament to his exceptional talent and influence on the field. He is believed to be the first player in the history of major U.S. sports to win an MVP while starting less than half of his team’s games and missing more than 40% of them altogether, excluding baseball pitchers. This unique achievement underscores his status as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Despite the early playoff exit, Messi’s contributions have solidified Inter Miami’s place as a top-tier MLS team and have set the stage for even greater achievements in the future.
