Lionel Messi Nominated for Third Consecutive MLS MVP Award

Lionel Messi has been named a finalist for the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) Most Valuable Player award. He is seeking to win the honour for a third consecutive season. The Inter Miami captain secured the nomination after scoring 26 goals in 31 appearances, earning him the 2026 MLS Golden Boot. This achievement also makes him the first player in MLS history to win the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons.

Messi faces competition from Evander (FC Cincinnati), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), and Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union). The league acknowledged his success in a post on X, stating, “Another season, another Golden Boot pres. by Audi for Messi.” Additionally, Messi received the MLS Goal of the Matchday award seven times and was named in the MLS Team of the Matchday on 13 occasions.

The finalists for the 2026 MLS Year-End Awards represent 15 clubs, with winners to be announced during the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. The selections were made based on votes from MLS club technical staff, first-team players, and selected media members, each group contributing a third of the total vote. This process ensures a comprehensive evaluation of the players' performances throughout the season.

The list of finalists for several key awards has been released. For the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award, the finalists are Evander (FC Cincinnati), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), and Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union). Other notable awards include the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year and the MLS Newcomer of the Year.

The MLS Young Player of the Year award has three finalists: Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), and Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union). The MLS Defender of the Year award finalists include Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jeisson Palacios (Nashville SC), and Maxwell Woledzi (Nashville SC). These awards recognize the outstanding contributions of players, coaches, and teams throughout the season.

Voting for the MLS Goal of the Year and Save of the Year awards opened on November 9 and will close on November 17. The MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year awards will be announced on Friday, with the MLS Best XI revealed later. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of individuals involved in the league.

The 2026 MLS Year-End Awards will conclude with the announcement of the winners during the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. The awards ceremony will recognize the achievements of outstanding players, coaches, and teams. Lionel Messi's nomination for the third consecutive MLS MVP award is a notable highlight, showcasing his exceptional skills and contributions to the league.

Key points

• Messi seeks third consecutive MLS MVP award.
• Messi won the 2026 MLS Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals in 31 appearances.
• The 2026 MLS Year-End Awards represent 15 clubs, with winners to be announced during the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs.