Lionel Messi wins 2024 MLS MVP award in close vote, Past Winners

MLS Year-End Awards Finalist 2024: List of MLS MVP Past Winners Since 1996..

— The best player in the world was the best player in Major League Soccer in 2024.

Lionel Messi has been named the 2024 MLS MVP, the league announced on Friday – another prestigious individual honor for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentine World Cup champion.

Messi accepted the MVP award from MLS commissioner Don Garber and more than 250 Inter Miami youth academy players – including his three sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro – at Chase Stadium on Wednesday night.

Messi helped Inter Miami set the MLS points record with the best regular season in league history, winning the Supporters’ Shield in his first full season with the team. But they were bounced by Atlanta United in the first-round of the MLS Cup playoffs, which end Saturday when the L.A. Galaxy host the New York Red Bulls in the final.

Messi played in 19 of 34 MLS games this season, missing two months due to a right ankle injury he sustained in Argentina’s Copa America win against Colombia in July. However, Messi finished the season with 20 goals and 16 assists, leading MLS with 36 goal contributions in 2024. His 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes is also a league record.

2024 Landon Donovan MLS MVP finalists, winner

Winner - Lionel Messi - Inter Miami - 38.43%

Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernandez (33.7%),

Portland Timbers' Evander (9.24%), 

D.C. United’s Christian Benteke (7.1%) 

Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez (2.17%)

List of Landon Donovan MLS MVP winners by year 1996-2024

2025:  MLS Landon Donovan Awards Finaliss

2024:  Lionel Messi - Inter Miami - 

2023: Luciano Acosta - FC Cincinnati

2022: Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC

2021: Carles Gil – New England Revolution

2020: Alejandro Pozuelo – Toronto FC

2019: Carlos Vela – Los Angeles Football Club

2018: Josef Martínez – Atlanta United FC

2017: Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers

2016: David Villa – New York City FC

2015: Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC

2014: Robbie Keane – LA Galaxy

2013: Mike Magee – Chicago Fire

2012: Chris Wondolowski – San Jose Earthquakes

2011: Dwayne De Rosario – D.C. United

2010: David Ferreira – FC Dallas

2009: Landon Donovan – LA Galaxy

2008: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew

2007: Luciano Emilio – D.C. United

2006: Christian Gómez – D.C. United

2005: Taylor Twellman – New England Revolution

2004: Amado Guevara – MetroStars

2003: Preki – Kansas City Wizards

2002: Carlos Ruiz – LA Galaxy

2001: Alex Pineda Chacon – Miami Fusion

2000: Tony Meola – Kansas City Wizards

1999: Jason Kreis – Dallas Burn

1998: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United

1997: Preki – Kansas City Wizards

1996: Carlos Valderrama – Tampa Bay Mutiny

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