"They won eight of nine games without Messi" - MLS legend suggests Lionel Messi does not deserve MVP award
Former Major League Soccer (MLS) player Taylor Twellman believes Lionel Messi doesn't deserve to win the Landon Donovan MVP award, given to the best player of the league season. The Argentine legend has missed 15 of 33 league games of the ongoing season, and Inter Miami have lost only thrice when he wasn't on the squad. Players such as Luis Suarez and Carles Gil helped Inter Miami secure some crucial points.
Twellman made this comment about the MVP award on his podcast, Twellman's Takes. He said (via GOAL):
"Seventeen goals and 15 assists in 18 games is alien-like, that’s out of this world type of production, but I ruffled some feathers when I said Miami won the Shield when they won eight of nine games without Messi,"
He further added:
"In 2023, Inter Miami won 78 per cent of their games with him, only 12% without. The big question this year was how would Miami survive without Messi in the summer, they answered that, they won eight of nine, so to keep the same points per game with or without him, nobody predicted that."
Messi has been nominated for the MVP award, along with his former Barcelona teammates Suarez and Riqui Puig, who plays for LA Galaxy. Other nominees include Federico Bernardeschi of Toronto FC and Christian Benteke of DC United.
Can Messi win the MVP award?
Despite featuring in only 18 games, the 37-year-old has been one of the standout players in the Eastern Conference. The Argentine forward has netted 17 goals and registered 10 assists in the league. Similarly, Inter Miami are currently the leaders in the Eastern Conference table, having secured 71 points from 33 games.
Meanwhile, his Miami teammate Suarez has netted 18 goals and registered seven assists in 26 appearances. In the Eastern Conference goalscoring chart, Christian Benteke is the top-scorer, having netted 23 goals and registered five assists in 29 appearances.
Notably, Messi has featured in fewer games than other nominated players. Thus, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner still has a decent chance of adding to his trophy cabinet with this recent nomination.