Major League Soccer has announced its finalists for eight individual season-ending awards. Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, is a top contender for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, having won the trophy in each of the past two seasons. Messi had a remarkable regular season, scoring a league-best 26 goals and 17 assists, which ranked second in the league. His impressive performance has earned him a spot among the five finalists for the MVP award.
Cavan Sullivan, a 17-year-old sensation from the Philadelphia Union, is also a finalist for the MVP award. Sullivan had a breakout season, scoring nine goals and 14 assists in 29 games, with 21 starts. He is also a contender for the Young Player of the Year award, alongside Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti of the New York Red Bulls. The Union's impressive performance has been a highlight of the season, with Sullivan's contributions being a key factor.
The other finalists for the MVP award are Evander of FC Cincinnati, Guilherme of the Houston Dynamo, and Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC. Nashville SC has had a remarkable season, winning the Supporters' Shield with a record of 23-3-8 and 77 points. Their coach, B.J. Callaghan, is also a finalist for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year award, alongside Yoann Damet of St. Louis City and Jesper Sorensen of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Defender of the Year Award category is dominated by Nashville SC players, with Andy Najar, Jeisson Palacios, and Maxwell Woledzi all vying for the honor. Nashville's Brian Schwake is also a finalist for the Goalkeeper of the Year Award, alongside Roman Burki of St. Louis City and Matt Turner of the New England Revolution. The Comeback Player of the Year award is down to Ryan Gauld of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Nick Hagglund of Cincinnati, and Eduard Lowen of the San Jose Earthquakes.
The Newcomer of the Year award has Guilherme of the Houston Dynamo, Antoine Griezmann of Orlando City, and Andre Luiz of Sporting Kansas City as finalists. The Humanitarian of the Year award has several nominees, including Paul Arriola of the Seattle Sounders, Andrew Farrell of the New England Revolution, and Telasco Segovia of Inter Miami. The winners of all eight categories will be revealed throughout the upcoming playoffs.
The MLS Best XI will also be revealed at a later date, while voting for Goal of the Year and Save of the Year is currently taking place online at mlssoccer.com. The league's awards are a significant recognition of the outstanding performances of players, coaches, and teams throughout the season. Messi's potential third consecutive MVP award would be a testament to his consistent excellence in the league.
The announcement of the finalists has generated significant interest and discussion among fans and pundits alike. The awards ceremony will take place during the playoffs, and the winners will be announced in the coming weeks. With a talented pool of nominees, the competition for the awards is expected to be fierce, and the winners will be determined by a vote.
Key points
- Messi is a top contender for the Landon Donovan MVP Award, having won the trophy in each of the past two seasons.
- Cavan Sullivan is a finalist for the MVP award and the Young Player of the Year award.
- Nashville SC has had a remarkable season, winning the Supporters' Shield and having multiple players nominated for various awards.
