Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi has been named Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 32 of the 2024 MLS regular season, marking his fourth POTM award of the season.
Messi earned this honor after an impressive performance in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium on Saturday, his first MLS match since June 1. In just his 19th MLS regular season appearance, Messi scored twice and provided an assist, surpassing Sebastian Giovinco as the fastest player to reach 15 goals and 15 assists in MLS history—achieving the milestone in 10 fewer games. With 28 goal contributions (14 goals and 14 assists) for the season, Messi ranks third in the league despite playing only 1,125 minutes. His 1.12 goals per 90 minutes is the highest among qualifying players.
Messi’s performance was pivotal in Inter Miami achieving a significant milestone, becoming only the second team in MLS history, after 2015 D.C. United, to win eight regular season games in a single season after conceding the first goal (excluding the shootout era). The Herons also became the fourth team to surpass 60 points within the first 28 games of a season.
In the match, Messi equalized in the 26th minute with a precise low shot after evading his defender. He then scored the game-winner just four minutes later by converting a cross from Jordi Alba. Messi capped off the night by assisting Luis Suárez for his 17th goal of the season, sealing the 3-1 victory.
This is the fourth time Messi has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra this season (Matchdays 9, 11, and 12), becoming the first player to do so since LAFC’s Carlos Vela (six) in 2019. Messi’s honor is the seventh by a Miami player this season, alongside the three earned by Luis Suárez (Matchdays 3, 5, and 29).
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.
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