Lionel Messi played a little more than half of Inter Miami ’s regular season games this year but is on the shortlist for most valuable player. Last year, The Athletic ’s MLS writers questioned the Argentina captain’s nomination for newcomer of the year. This year, the MVP argument is far less contested, but contested nonetheless.
Advertisement And while there is a clear winner for each of the defensive awards, Luis Suarez isn’t the only player valued as newcomer of the year. Here’s how our MLS writers voted for MVP, defender of the year, coach of the year, Best XI and more. Most Valuable Player Pablo Maurer: Yes, I understand that Messi was injured for a long stretch of Miami’s season.
I also understand that during that stretch, Miami did not miss him — not statistically, at least. And I understand that there are other players — Cucho Hernández comes to mind — that likely have a rightful claim to this award as well. Yet Messi, despite missing 15 matches, has been the most dominant attacking player in MLS by a wide margin.
MLS conspiracy theorists will claim that the league, and Miami, will ensure that Messi wins this award. In reality, Messi wins because he’s made the league itself look like child’s play. And this is to say nothing of his effect on MLS’ global perception and its business interests.
He is undoubtedly the highest-profile player in league history, and he hasn’t disappointed. Felipe Cárdenas: Inter Miami indeed learned to win without.
