Messi Makes MLS History: Inter Miami Star Becomes First Back-to-Back MVP

Fort Lauderdale: In a campaign almost designed for the extraordinary, Messi led Inter Miami, the crowned MLS Cup champions, with a brilliance that left spectators and rivals alike in awe. With 29 goals and 19 assists in the regular season, the numbers spoke volumes, but even they could scarcely capture the artistry and unwavering commitment Messi brought to the pitch.

This marks yet another first in a career overflowing with them. Messi joins Preki, the 1997 and 2003 MVP, as only the second player to claim the award twice, but unlike Preki, Messi did it in consecutive seasons, making history in a league hungry for its global icon.

Even having played barely half of Miami’s regular- season matches in 2024 could not dim the brilliance that made him the uncontested choice this year. While last year’s MVP vote had been razor-close, this time Messi’s victory was resounding. He received 70.4 percent of the total vote, the largest margin since Sebastian Giovinco in 2015. Behind him, Anders Dreyer, Denis Bouanga, Evander and Sam Surridge trailed distantly, their percentages mere whispers compared to the roar of Messi’s triumph.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, speaking earlier in the season, captured the sentiment perfectly. "I think he’s the unicorn of unicorns. There’s something about the way he’s wired. His intensity and desire to win is what makes him the greatest of all time. He has a special sauce, a focus that ensures he does exactly what is needed to win games.'

A Legacy Beyond Comparison

This accolade joins a constellation of honours accumulated over a career that has redefined the sport: eight Ballon d’Ors, eight Pichichi trophies, six La Liga Best Player awards, three Best FIFA Men’s Player trophies, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year titles, two World Cup Golden Balls, and 47 team trophies including the 2022 World Cup. Messi’s name is synonymous with excellence, and in MLS he has created a new benchmark, inspiring awe and admiration in equal measure.

In a feat that underscores his dominance, Messi becomes only the sixth player in MLS history to clinch the MVP and a championship in the same season. Moreover, he matched a rare hat-trick of MVP, league championship and Golden Boot, last achieved by Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez in 2018.

History has often brushed against greatness in MLS, yet none have shone quite like Messi. Only four players, Valderrama, Etcheverry, Villa and Martinez, had previously managed to reach MVP contention in consecutive years. And now, Messi has elevated that legacy to a new pinnacle.

Even more exciting for fans of the league, Messi’s journey in Miami is far from over. With a three-year extension signed, he will continue to dazzle crowds in Inter Miami’s new stadium near Miami International Airport, a venue destined to witness history in the making. "When Lionel Messi made MLS his league of choice, it marked a turning point, not just for Inter Miami but for our entire sport in North America,' Garber said at the contract announcement. "We have witnessed something truly historic: the greatest player of all time bringing global attention to our league.'

Across the major US sports leagues, back-to-back MVPs have occurred, from Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in MLB to Nikola Jokic in the NBA, A’ja Wilson in the WNBA, Aaron Rodgers in the NFL and Alex Ovechkin in the NHL. Yet never in MLS. Until now.

Messi has arrived. Messi has conquered. In doing so, he has not merely made history, he has rewritten it in letters bold enough to echo through the stadiums, the hearts of fans, and the very soul of the sport itself.