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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Alexander Abnos

Lionel Messi has missed half the MLS season. Should he be MVP?

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi ranks fifth in the MLS goal scoring leaderboard with 17 and sixth in assists with 11, giving him 28 total goal contributions.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi ranks fifth in the MLS goal scoring leaderboard with 17 and sixth in assists with 11, giving him 28 total goal contributions. Photograph: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

In a development that will only come as a shock to newborns and extraterrestrials, Lionel Messi’s MLS performances have been absolutely stellar this season. He has been a key part of the Inter Miami team at the top of the standings, has produced all manner of goals and assists, and has generally lived up to the hype every time he has stepped on the field.

It’s slightly more surprising that if his spectacular run ends with winning MLS’s Most Valuable Player award (MVP), it would be unprecedented in North American men’s sports and nearly unheard of in the most famous domestic men’s leagues in Europe – with one very notable exception.

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