Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez named in 34-man nominee list for 2024 MLS Most Valuable Player award
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have made it to the MLS MVP nominees list after helping Inter Miami win the Supporters' Shield this season. The duo are among the 34 players battling for the award after the Eastern Conference side put forward their names.
The London Donovan Award voting has begun today (October 7) and will conclude on the 21st of October. MLS players, technical staff from the clubs, and select journalists will be voting in this category.
The players who have been nominated this year are:
- Acosta, Luciano - FC Cincinnati
- Arango, Cristian - Real Salt Lake
- Artur - Houston Dynamo FC
- Benteke, Christian - D.C. United
- Bernardeschi, Federico - Toronto FC
- Bouanga, Denis - LAFC
- Bürki, Roman - St. Louis CITY SC
- Espinoza, Cristian - San Jose Earthquakes
- Evander - Portland Timbers
- Freese, Matt - New York City FC
- Gauld, Ryan - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Gazdag, Dániel - Philadelphia Union
- Gil, Carles - New England Revolution
- Hernández, Cucho - Columbus Crew
- Kahlina, Kristijan - Charlotte FC
- Lobjanidze, Saba - Atlanta United
- López, Hernán - San Jose Earthquakes
- Martínez, Josef - CF Montréal
- Messi, Lionel - Inter Miami CF
- Mihailovic, Djordje - Colorado Rapids
- Morgan, Lewis - New York Red Bulls
- Morris, Jordan - Seattle Sounders FC
- Navarro, Rafael - Colorado Rapids
- Ojeda, Martín - Orlando City SC
- Orellano, Luca - FC Cincinnati
- Osorio, Jonathan - Toronto FC
- Piette, Samuel - CF Montréal
- Puig, Riqui - LA Galaxy
- Rodríguez, Jonathan - Portland Timbers
- Rodríguez, Santiago - New York City FC
- Rusnák, Albert - Seattle Sounders FC
- Suárez, Luis - Inter Miami CF
- Torres, Facundo - Orlando City SC
- White, Brian - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
All eligible players must have played at least 1000 minutes in the regular season. Each club could nominate a maximum of two players for the award and Inter Miami have gone with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez after their contribution to the team this season.
What did Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez do for Inter Miami?
Lionel Messi led from the front for Inter Miami this season as he scored 17 goals and assisted 10 times in 18 MLS matches during the regular season. He missed a few games due to injuries but managed to help them win their first-ever Supporters' Shield.
Luis Suarez was also in fine form and scored 18 times in the league. He also assisted seven times for Inter Miami in his 26 matches for the club.
The David Beckham-owned side had failed to make it to the playoffs last season but have now finished on top of the table. Lionel Messi and Co. will be hoping that they can go all the way and win the MLS Cup too.