Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez? Inter Miami star names his favorite to win MLS MVP award this year
Inter Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi has backed Lionel Messi to win the MLS MVP award this season. The award is handed to the most valuable player of the season, as voted by the media, players, and club management.
No Inter Miami player has ever won the award to date, but there's a good chance that could change this year. The Herons have been enjoyed a spectacular rise this season, finishing at the top of the Eastern Conference table, registering a record 74 points.
Central to their form have been Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Argentinean has scored 22 times and set up 12 more from 22 games across competitions. Suarez, meanwhile, has registered 24 goals and 12 assists from 32 games for the Florida-based club.
However, speaking to the MLS website, Cremaschi insisted that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner deserves the award as he is on another level.
“I think so [Messi is MLS MVP]. Obviously Leo, the truth is he shows it every time he steps on the pitch. He is a player who is at another level, which shows more than a lot. Obviously, we also have Luis Suarez, who is there to be nominated, so hopefully, someone from the club can win it,” said Cremaschi.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have both scored 20 times in the league this season for Inter Miami. With the MLS playoffs coming up, the race for the MVP could go down to the wire this year.
When does Lionel Messi's contract with Inter Miami expire?
Lionel Messi arrived at Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The Herons, who were languishing in the bottom half of the league table, managed a coup by convincing the Argentinian to join them.
The diminutive magician helped Florida-based club win the Leagues Cup in his debut campaign, which was the first silverware in their history. This season, his golden touch has completely transformed the team, who have already won the Supporters Shield by finishing at the top of the Eastern Conference table.
The 37-year-old has also been a commercial success for Inter Miami, helping them register record revenues. Messi's contract at the Chase Stadium expires at the end of 2025, so his future could be part of discussions in the coming months.
However, with the 2026 World Cup set to be hosted in the US, along with Canada and Mexico, the Argentinean might hang around with the Herons for a little longer.