The Landon Donovan MLS MVP trophy is a prestigious accolade, awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding in the MLS season.
Since its inception in 1996, coinciding with the league’s inaugural season, the MLS MVP award honors a player not just for their on-field brilliance and statistical achievements, but also for their pivotal role in elevating their team’s performance throughout the season.
Reflecting on the league’s history from 1996 to 2023, a striking 71.4% of MVP winners have been international players over the past 28 years. This raises the question: will 2024 continue the trend of international dominance in MVP selections, or will we see a domestic player break the norm?
This year’s battle for the MLS MVP title is poised to be extremely competitive, with the league experiencing an influx of fresh talent in the last two transfer windows. Players like Lionel Messi, Emil Forsberg, Sergio Busquets, and Peter Musa are set for a full-seasoned attempt at the MVP trophy. The majority of last season’s nominees are still playing in the league. Remarkably, out of the 30 nominees, only one transferred out of MLS during this off-season.
Messi is widely considered the favorite to win the MVP trophy with Inter Miami, as the Argentine is coming off a Ballon d’Or victory. While no player in MLS history has won the Ballon d’Or and the MLS MVP, Messi stands a strong chance of achieving this feat. The current MLS MVP, Luciano Acosta, even acknowledged his fortune that Messi only played half a season in MLS, remarking, “Thank goodness Leo [Messi] arrived at the half of the season, or he would have won MVP!”.
Even though Messi is the best soccer player in the world. Messi is unlikely to play all 34 MLS games this season. He’s rumored to miss between 6-8 games due to international duty with Argentina. Also, though it seems improbable, Messi might also be selected to represent Argentina in the Summer Olympics, potentially causing him to miss additional MLS games following the Copa America.
This scenario is just the beginning of potential absences for the Argentine star. Inter Miami, participating in three competitions this season – MLS, Leagues Cup, and CONCACAF Champions Cup – under the guidance of Head Coach Tata Martino, will be focusing on the CONCACAF Champions Cup. This competition offers a path to the FIFA Club World Cup, which might lead to strategic decisions regarding Messi’s playtime.
If Messi experiences fatigue from participating in these various competitions, he may sit out additional MLS games or be utilized as a substitute for Inter Miami. With the possibility of Messi missing several games, the MVP race remains wide open this season. Even though Messi is arguably the best player in the world, many voters might find it challenging to award the MVP title to a player with limited playtime.
The last three MLS MVPs, Luciano Acosta, Hany Mukhtar and Carles Gil are all still capable of winning MVP this year as they are all still dominant players for their teams. All these players should be considered strong contenders for the trophy as they know what it takes to be MVP in MLS.
With recent high-profile additions in the last couple of years like Roman Burki and the anticipated arrival of Hugo Lloris, 2024 presents a unique opportunity. Could this be the year we witness another goalkeeper achieving the prestigious MVP status in MLS, breaking the long-standing norm? The last Goalkeeper to win the MLS MVP was Tony Meola, when he lifted the trophy in 2000.
Considering that the MVP award often goes to an attacking player, domestic talents like Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris stand a chance at claiming the MLS MVP title. Both were nominees last year and have since seen new attacking additions to their squads, potentially elevating their teams’ offensive capabilities. With these enhancements, each player has an opportunity to distinguish themselves in the upcoming season.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on which underdog superstar can outshine the “GOAT” and etch their name into MLS history by winning the most challenging MLS MVP trophy ever. Will it be a domestic player, a goalkeeper finally claiming the title again, a former MLS MVP joining the elite ranks of Donovan and Preki with a second win, or will Messi captivate everyone’s hearts once more this season with his phenomenal play?
The MVP race begins on Wednesday, February 21, when Inter Miami hosts Real Salt Lake to kick off the 2024 MLS season on Apple TV.
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