MLS

Messi headlines 23-player MLS MVP shortlist

By Sports Desk October 08, 2024

Lionel Messi is one of 23 players to be nominated for the 2024 MLS MVP award, being joined on the shortlist by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.

Messi is considered the leading candidate to win the league's top individual prize after scoring 17 goals and contributing 10 assists in just 18 regular-season matches this year.

The Argentina legend has missed large chunks of the campaign through injury, recently sitting out two months with an ankle problem he sustained while representing his country in the Copa America final.

Yet only four players – D.C. United's Christian Benteke (23), Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga, the Columbus Crew's Cucho Hernandez (both 19) and Suarez (18) – have outscored him this term, and he also sits joint-eighth in the assist charts.

Suarez is the other Miami player to be nominated for the prize, having put himself in Golden Boot contention in his first season in the United States.

The Uruguayan's 18 league goals have come from chances with a total expected goals (xG) value of 12.04, giving him an overperformance of 5.96.

Only New York City's Alonso Martinez (6.13, 16 goals from 9.87 xG) and Messi (6.08, 17 from 10.92 xG) have overperformed their underlying figures by a greater margin.

Suarez is also up for the league's Newcomer of the Year award, alongside players including Hugo Lloris of LAFC and the Galaxy's leading scorer Gabriel Pec.

Last season's MVP, FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta, is in the running for the top prize once more after providing more direct goal involvements (30, 14 goals, 16 assists) than any other player in the league.

With Miami winning the Supporters' Shield and remaining on course to break the league's single-season points record (73 by the 2021 New England Revolution), head coach Gerardo Martino has been nominated for the Coach of the Year award.

The Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas, Greg Vanney of the LA Galaxy and the Columbus Crew's Wilfried Nancy are considered among the other leading contenders.

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    Arnett Gardens extended their unbeaten run across five matches as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tivoli Gardens in an entertaining Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) derby at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.

    The match, full of drama and excitement, saw both teams display moments of brilliance, but Arnett Garden’s grit and clinical finishing ultimately made the difference.

    Arnett Gardens were spurred by goals from in-form Warner Brown in the ninth and ever-reliable Kimani Arbouine (66th), while Anthony Nelson (23rd) got on the scoresheet for Tivoli Gardens, who ended with 10 players as Kavon Wilson was red carded in the 71st.

    With the win, the “Junglists” moved to 15 points, though they remain in sixth place in the league standings. Tivoli Gardens, on the other hand, were left frustrated as they remained in 13th place with just one win and six points from their opening eighth matches.

    Winning coach Xavier Gilbert believes it was a hard-earned victory that showcased their attacking quality and the importance of taking their chances.

    “Thankfully, we got the three points; we know it wasn’t going to be easy, but we are happy that we came out on top. We had to make some tactical adjustments, and luckily they worked for us. We try to mix things up as much as possible in terms of our depth; sometimes it is forced, and sometimes for tactical reasons we try to analyse our opponents and select the best 11 that we think can get the job done. So credit to the guys for the way they fought back in the game,” Gilbert said in a post-game interview.

    The match started at an electric pace, with Arnett Gardens seizing the initiative early when Brown produced a tidy finish from close range to a perfectly weighted pass from Arbouine.

    Though the early lead sparked Arnett Gardens’ momentum, Tivoli Gardens didn’t let the game slip away easily, and a few stoppages, which sparked an offensive lull, aided the West Kingston team’s comeback into the contest.

    They eventually responded through a well-worked goal as Justin Dunn’s weighted pass found Nelson in space, and the Tivoli Gardens striker coolly slotted the ball past Richardo White in goal for Arnett Gardens to level the score at 1-1.

    The equalizer seemed to breathe new life into Tivoli Gardens, who began to grow into the game. Their pressure nearly paid off on two occasions, the first of which saw Nelson’s effort being kept out by White’s head in a one-on-one situation.

    Tivoli again went close just before halftime when Lennox Russell found himself with a golden opportunity, as he left an advancing White for dead but watched as his shot was blocked by Arnett’s defender Oshane Watson at the last second.

    Both teams continued their push for the go-ahead goal on the resumption with Tivoli Gardens again ruing their luck as Dunn’s effort got by White but came back off the upright.

    Arnett responded minutes later as Jaheim Thomas unleashed a stinging effort from a distance that was parried by Tivoli Gardens’ custodian Diego Haughton.

    However, Arnett Gardens inevitably found their breakthrough in the six minutes past the hour mark. Arbouine, who played provider on the first goal, took matters into his own hands with a delightful strike from over 20-yards out that left Haughton beaten, as the attacker registered his fifth goal of the season.