Lionel Messi has been nominated for the Most Valuable Player award despite starting three MLS games this season.
Despite only appearing in four MLS games so far this season, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been nominated for two MVP awards.
Since joining Miami in July, Messi has made a significant impact, helping his team win the Leagues Cup and recording eleven goals and five assists in his first 12 appearances.
However, he has only started three regular league games and missed the last four due to injury.
This makes his nomination for the awards even more surprising, considering he has missed five out of the last six fixtures.
The Argentina World Cup winner has cut the ‘Landon Donovan MLS award’s 30-man shortlist, alongside his Miami teammate Sergio Busquets, as well as being among the 27 players nominated for the Newcomer of the Year trophy.
Without denying the significant commercial impact the World Cup champion has had on MLS, with soaring jersey sales and an Apple TV docuseries documenting his arrival set to be released soon, Messi brought the League to limelight.
Other notable nominees for the MLS MVP award include Messi’s Argentina teammate Thiago Almada, his former Barcelona teammate Riqui Puig, and the current top scorer for LAFC, Denis Bouanga.
Why Messi could win the awards
After departing from Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi made the move to Inter Miami this summer and quickly settled into his new life in South Florida.
Since his arrival, Messi has had an unprecedented impact on the club. Despite being considered one of the weakest teams in the MLS, Inter Miami has not lost a single game with Messi on the field.
His first seven matches were in the Leagues Cup, where he led his team to victory and secured the trophy.
The 36-year-old star proved his worth by winning the titles of the tournament’s highest goal scorer and Best Player.
Additionally, Messi played a crucial role in helping Inter Miami reach the final of the US Open Cup, although unfortunately, they were unable to secure the victory in his absence.
Date for the MVP award
The awards voting timeline spans from October 10 to 23, with club technical staff, MLS players, and journalists all playing a part in the decision-making process. Each group holds an equal weight of 33.3% in determining the winners for each category.
What’s next for Lionel Messi?
It’s likely impossible for Messi to appear in Miami’s next fixture as the seven-time Ballon d’Or holder is yet to fully recover from the injury.
Inter Miami are currently only five points away from securing a spot in the playoffs, with just three games left to determine their fate.
Their upcoming game against top-of-the-league Cincinnati will take place on Sunday, October 8, followed by a double-header against Charlotte FC.
Regardless of Messi’s scar tissue and a muscle injury in recent weeks, he has been listed in Argentina’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
