Atlanta United striker, Giorgos Giakoumakis breezed past the competition from Lionel Messi to win the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.
Giakoumakis was outstanding in attack for the MLS club last season, scoring 17 goals and providing no assists in 30 appearances.
Giorgos Giakoumakis joined Atlanta United from Celtic on February 8, 2023, for a fee of €4 million.
He was instrumental in helping Gonzalo Pineda’s side qualify for the MLS playoffs from the Eastern Conference, as they finished 6th on the log.
The 28-year-old has played for some notable European teams in his career, including; AEK Athens, VVV-Venlo, and Celtic.
Beating Messi to the award was shocking to many, given the Argentine’s name and contribution to the MLS since joining the league in July 2023.
Lionel Messi scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in 14 appearances for Inter Miami across all competitions last season.
His arrival to the division also signaled a massive centering of attention on the MLS, than ever before.
The league has also experienced financial growth in recent months, due to the arrival of Messi.
The 36-year-old was also recently handed the 2023 Ballon d’Or award on October 30, 2023, for his immense output last season.
What could have been the reason why Giorgos Giakoumakis won the Newcomer of the Year Award over Lionel Messi?
Possibly, what stood Giorgos Giakoumakis out from Lionel Messi, was him being able to guide Atlanta United to the MLS playoffs, a feat Messi couldn’t achieve with Inter Miami last season.
He was instrumental in Tata Martino’s side winning the Leagues Cup, but that was a cup competition, not a league triumph.
The Herons finished 14th in the Eastern Conference in the 2023 regular season, and 27th overall, just two spots away from the bottom team in Toronto FC.
Lionel Messi has also enveloped the attention with regards to image rights, and TV ads, as he has been made the primary focus, given his immense status in the round leather game.
Atlanta United also did a video celebrating Giakoumakis clinching the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award, and he was showered with congratulatory messages across board, as he saw highlights of some of his goals for the club.
Giorgos Giakoumakis finished 4th in the goalscoring chart, 5 goals behind Los Angeles FC Denis Bouanga, who ended the regular season as the top-scorer.
Atlanta United face Columbus Crew on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, in the return leg of their MLS playoff encounter.
Gonzalo Pineda’s side lost 2-0 to Columbus Crew in the round of 16 first leg and they will be looking to make right their wrongs.
They have won the MLS on just one occasion, winning it in the 2028 season, dispatching Portland Timbers 2-0 in the final.
Meanwhile, Giorgos Giakoumakis is a Greece International, and he has made 19 appearances for his nation, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist thus far.
