Lionel Messi has been crowned the 2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, cementing his extraordinary first full season with Inter Miami CF. The Argentine superstar led the team to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield title and shattered the MLS single-season points record with 74 points.
Despite appearing in only 19 matches due to injuries and international duty, Messi delivered a staggering 36 goal contributions, including 20 goals and 16 assists. This marks the fifth-highest single-season total in MLS history. Averaging a league-record 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes, Messi proved to be a transformative force for Miami, contributing to goals in 15 of his 19 games and recording multiple goal involvements 11 times.
Under Messi’s leadership, Inter Miami lost just one regular-season game with him in the lineup, boasting a 12-1-6 record and averaging 2.68 goals per match. Notably, the team became the first in MLS history to achieve at least 11 wins at both home and away venues, excluding the shootout era.
Messi’s dominance extends beyond individual accolades, as he joins the elite ranks of former MVPs Carlos Vela (2019) and Sebastian Giovinco (2015) as the only players in league history to record at least 20 goals and 15 assists in a single season.
The voting process for the MVP award involves contributions from players, club technical staff, and media. Messi secured 38.43% of the total votes, outperforming Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández, who came second with 33.70%.
This latest honor makes Messi the fifth Argentine to win the MLS MVP award, following in the footsteps of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Diego Valeri, and others. His achievements in just one season underscore his impact on the league and set the bar for future performances.
The Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, first presented in 1996, celebrates the league’s most valuable player as determined by their impact on their club’s success. Messi’s unparalleled season further solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history, now making his mark in the MLS.
As the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to inspire fans and players alike, his contributions to Inter Miami and the league as a whole will undoubtedly be remembered as a landmark chapter in MLS history.