Lionel Messi has been shortlisted for Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Newcomer of the Year in the 2023 MLS Year-End of Awards.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has received a nomination for the 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player award, and another for the Newcomer of the Year. The nomination of the Argentine forward has raised eyebrows because he has appeared only four times in the league since joining the side.
The 36-year-old forward has featured 11 times for Inter Miami following his move from Paris Saint-Germain in July, but just four of those appearances have come in MLS. Ten of Messi’s 11 goals since moving to Miami have come in the Leagues Cup.
Messi’s Miami teammate Sergio Busquets is also shortlisted for both awards despite joining mid-way through the season.
The criteria for the Newcomer award is a player with “previous professional experience and made his MLS debut in 2023”.
Reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar is again nominated after providing 15 goals and eight assists for Nashville in 31 MLS appearances. The Nashville attacking midfielder is among the front runners for the award alongside Luciano Acosta, who has provided 16 goals and 10 assists in 31 appearances as Cincinnati topped the Eastern Conference.
St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki is also on the shortlist after his side won the Western Conference. Burki is vying to become just the second goalkeeper to be named MLS MVP in the history of the awards — and the first since Kansas City’s Tony Meola in 2000.
Houston Dynamo’s box-to-box midfielder Hector Herrera is also among the front runners to be named MVP, alongside Thiago Almada, after his 11 goals and 14 assists for Atlanta.
St. Louis midfielder Eduard Lowen and Atlanta forward Giorgos Giakoumakis are expected to be among the front runners for the Newcomer award.
The awards are voted for by MLS players, coaches and media members and voting concludes on October 23.
Messi joined Inter Miami after leaving French giants Paris Saint-Germain this summer and immediately settled into life in South Florida. His first seven matches came in the Leagues Cup as he led his new side to the trophy.
The 36-year-old won the awards for the highest goalscorer and Best Player of the tournament as his side picked up the silverware. He also helped to get Inter Miami into the final of the US Open Cup, which they lost in his absence.
Lionel Messi has featured only four times in the MLS since moving to Miami, with an injury limiting his impact. The experienced forward has been out since September and has not played a full match since, only managing 37 minutes against FC Toronto.
Messi was included in the 30-man Landon Donovan MVP Award shortlist, alongside fellow summer signing Sergio Busquets. The Argentine great has scored one goal and assisted two more in his four league appearances for Inter Miami.
In the Newcomer of the Year category, Messi also received a nomination following his immediate impact. Meanwhile, fellow Inter Miami star Jordi Alba has been nominated for the Defender of the Year.
The voting for the awards is set to take place between October 10 and 23. For each category, voting will be done by club technical staff, MLS players, and journalists, with each group accounting for 33.3% of votes.
Lionel Messi set for more history in MLS
The impact of Lionel Messi on Inter Miami since his arrival at the club is one that has been unprecedented. With the Argentine forward on the pitch, the side which was arguably the worst in the MLS has yet to lose a single game.
Messi has missed each of his side’s last four matches through injury, resulting in their playoff hopes dwindling. They hope to welcome him back for their next match against FC Cincinnati as they look to reach the postseason.
Inter Miami are five points away from a place in the playoffs and have three games left to try to reach the postseason. They will play FC Cincinnati once before a double-header against Charlotte FC.
Lionel Messi has enjoyed a storied career, with an incredible trophy haul at personal and team levels. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be elated to win the MLS award and will be keen to earn it once he returns.
