Lionel Messi has been nominated for Major League Soccer’s 2023 MVP Award – despite featuring for Inter Miami only four times in the league.
Messi arrived in Miami in July and immediately helped his new team lift the Leagues Cup, but despite playing only four games in MLS due to injury, the Argentine captain is among the 30-player shortlist for the “Landon Donovan MLS MVP” award.
The World Cup winner is also nominated for Newcomer of the Year trophy alongside his teammate and long-time friend Sergio Busquets.
Messi’s national team teammate Thiago Almada, his former Barcelona teammate Riqui Puig, and current league topscorer Denis Bouanga are among the other players up for the MLS MVP title.
Since completing his shock move to Miami, Messi has recorded eleven goals and five assists across his 12 appearances in all competitions.
However, he has missed five out of the last six games through an injury he sustained against Toronto FC on September 20.
He could be back this weekend against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati, according to his manager Gerardo Tata Martino.
Inter Miami are five points adrift of a playoff spot with a game-in-hand on ninth placed Montreal. They have three games remaining; the game against Cincinnati this weekend will be followed by a double header against Charlotte FC to finish the season.
They will need to win all three remaining games to have a chance of finishing in the playoffs positions.
