Despite playing in just six league games for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, an Argentine sensation, was one of three finalists announced on Thursday for the Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year award.
In a competition that included MLS and Mexican league teams in August, the 36-year-old striker—who led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar—led Miami to the Leagues Cup championship.
Messi didn’t participate in his first Major League Soccer game until August 26, when he came on as a second-half substitute and helped Inter defeat the New York Red Bulls 2-0 to end an 11-game losing skid.
Unfortunately, Messi’s late-season leg injury prevented him from leading Miami from the bottom of the league to the MLS playoffs.
Messi has been a money maker for Major League Soccer (MLS) since joining Inter Miami in July. He has sold jerseys, increased season pass viewing subscription sales and increased ticket sales wherever Miami has played.
Messi’s competitors for the newbie award are German midfielder Eduard Lowen of St. Louis City and Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis of Atlanta United. The newcomer award is given to anyone with professional experience who made their Major League Soccer debut this year.
Though he wasn’t one of the three finalists in that category, Messi was one of the players nominated for the MLS Most Valuable Player award as well.
These three players were Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati, the team that led the regular season in wins, Denis Bouanga, the winner of the MLS Golden Boot and a French-born Gabon international for Los Angeles FC, and Thiago Almada of Atlanta, another outstanding Argentine player.
