Messi nominated for MLS MVP award – despite playing four games for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi has been nominated for MLS's Most Valuable Player award – despite the fact he's barely played in the competition.

The spellbinding Argentine has been an utter sensation Inter Miami since joining them in July. He has scored 11 goals in 12 games, he helped the club win its first piece of silverware, and he transformed them from win-averse stragglers to an all-conquering force of nature. Not a bad start then, eh?

Still, his nomination for MLS' 2023 MVP award is a surprise, particularly since he's only played four league matches so far. Other than Messi's team-mate Sergio Busquets, who also joined Miami in the summer, each of the other nominees have over 25 MLS appearances to their name this year.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi could win his most ludicrous award yet as nominees for MLS gongs released

READ MORE: MLS' most-sold kits show which players compete with Lionel Messi for fans' love

Nevertheless, some bookies are making Messi favourite to win the award, just as he's favourite to win the Ballon d'Or for a record eighth time later this month. Other potential winners include Messi's Argentina team-mate Thiago Almada, his former Barcelona team-mate Riqui Puig, and current MLS top scorer Denis Bouanga.

In spite of the culture-changing impact Messi's arrival has had at Miami, the Florida-based franchised are second-bottom of the Eastern Conference, having lost 16 of their 31 league matches this season. They've picked up three of their nine wins in the four games Messi has featured in, though their form has slumped ever since the 36-year-old went out injured last month.

Does Messi deserve to win the MLS MVP award? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The MLS regular season finishes at the end of October, and with Inter Miami almost certain to not make the Play-Offs, fans will have to wait until February next year to catch the World Cup-winning magician in action. However, recent reports indicate Messi could look to seal a short-term loan move to a European team in January, with Barcelona his most-likely destination.

You can enjoy three month of subscription for free when you buy an eligible Apple device and redeem the offer within 90 days.

Or you can pay a month subscription of £6.99 per month and you can cancel at any time,

Enjoy star-studded, award-winning series, films, and more on web browsers, the free Apple TV app or any Apple smart devices

£6.99 per month

You can watch Messi's debut MLS season, plus every match live, including play-offs.

Fans can subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for £14.99 per month during the season or £49 for the rest of the season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of £12.99 per month or £39 for the rest of the season.

A subscription to MLS Season Pass is included with each MLS club full-season ticket account.,

Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password.

£14.99 per month or £12.99 for Apple TV+ subscribers

The likes of David Beckham and Landon Donavan have done this in the past, with Beckham sealing moves to AC Milan in 2009 and 2010 after LA Galaxy failed to qualify for the Play-Offs. Donavan, meanwhile, had short stints at Bayern Munich and Everton around the same time.

Source: Read Full Article