NEW YORK (Thursday, October 3, 2024) – Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 36 of the 2024 MLS season.
Messi scored two goals as part of Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory at the Columbus Crew, which saw the Herons clinch their first-ever Supporters’ Shield title. With the accolade, the Herons have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home-field advantage throughout the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. As the Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami will compete in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, marking the second-straight season they will participate in the competition.
On the season Messi has recorded 32 goal contributions (17 goals and 15 assists), which is tied the second-most in MLS and one behind Portland’s Evander (33). Among the leaders in goals per 90 minutes this season (min. five goals), Messi ranks first at 1.01 goals per 90 minutes. With the Argentine’s first goal on the night, Miami (72 goals) became just the 10th team in MLS history to score at least 70 goals in a season and the club became only the third team since 2011 to win the Supporters’ Shield after missing the playoffs in the previous season, joining LAFC in 2022 and the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012.
Messi scored in the 45th minute with a slight touch past the goalkeeper before adding his second in first-half stoppage time with a sensational free kick from exactly 27 yards out. After Columbus scored quickly after halftime, Suárez restored the two-goal advantage in the 48th minute as Miami held on to the 3-2 win thanks to a penalty kick save by Drake Callender with six minutes remaining.
This is the fifth time Messi has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra this season after previously doing so for his performances on Matchdays 9, 11, 12, and 32. Messi is the fifth player in MLS history to win the award at least five times in the same season, joining Carlos Vela (six in 2019), Thierry Henry (five in 2012), Jason Kreis (six in 1999), and Cobi Jones (five in 1998).
Inter Miami will look to continue their chase for the single-season points record by winning their final two games, with the first this Saturday on the road at Toronto FC (4 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
