For years, there have been only 2 names dominating the top individual awards in the World of Soccer: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. That trend continued as Messi secured his 10th MVP award by winning the MLS MVP 2024. However, despite all the spotlight being on the Inter Miami star, a certain Colombian player managed to get the edge over him in a particular category. 

The Landon Donovan MVP Award is voted on by media, MLS players, and club technical staff and given to the player deemed the most valuable in the league each season. While Lionel Messi secured a larger overall percentage of votes than any other player, Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández stood out in the club vote category, receiving 37.50% compared to Messi’s 31.25%.

After all, the Colombian’s 19 goals and 11 assists helped the side finish 2nd in the regular season, behind Inter Miami. This marks back-to-back MVP accolades for Cucho Hernández, as he was named the MLS Cup MVP last season. In the cup finale, Columbus Crew beat Los Angeles FC 2-1, and the Colombian also scored a penalty. He is also the League Cup Best Player of this season and was named in the MLS Best XI for the second time in a row. 

Lionel Messi, on the other hand, had 36 goal contributions, scoring 20 goals and getting 16 assists, which helped Inter Miami finish the regular season with a points record of 74. Even though Messi played only 19 games owing to injuries, ‘The Herons’ only lost one regular season game with the Argentinian on the pitch. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner averaged 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes in the regular season, setting a new league record.

While Messi and Co. dominated the regular season, Miami was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Atlanta United, who won the best-of-three series, 2-1. But Messi ends the season on another high, reuniting with yet another teammate. 

Lionel Messi’s ex-Argentina, Barcelona teammate Javier Mascherano, named Inter Miami coach

Javier Mascherano played alongside Messi at Barcelona from 2010-2018. The new managerial job comes after the previous manager and also former Barcelona coach saw Inter Miami on the losing side of one of the biggest upsets in MLS history. The current head position marks Mascherano’s first senior job at club level. During their time at Barcelona, Messi and Mascherano won two Champions League trophies and 4 La Liga titles, among other accolades.

The Argentine will also be reuniting with teammates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez, with the Uruguayan’s future at the club in doubt. “I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play the (MLS Cup) final next Saturday,” Messi said when receiving the MVP award, further adding, “But that’s also what football is about, overcoming yourself every day. We had a big dream of being MLS champions this year. It didn’t happen, but next year we’ll come back stronger to try again.”