Lionel Messi is the biggest player to ever play in MLS, with the Inter Miami star widely considered the greatest soccer player of all-time.
With the most titles in history and eight Ballon d’Or wins, it’s easy to see why Messi is regarded as the best there has ever been, with the 37-year-old still one of the best players on the planet despite his age and fitness issues.
With the MLS regular season coming to a close, talk of who will win the annual MVP award is starting to crop up, with Messi’s name, of course, in the mix, even with the Inter Miami captain playing just 12 league games all year.
And MLS expert Matt Doyle has shared where he thinks Messi will end up in the final rankings.
Messi tipped to just about break into the top-five of MVP voting
Speaking on Extratime, the pundit made the claim that Messi could be in contention to finish in the top-five for MVP voting, an impressive feat given how little the forward has actually played for Inter Miami this year.
With Messi set to return from injury in the next two weeks, though, there’s a good chance that the Argentine could prove himself to be a real contender for the award, especially if he plays a key role in winning MLS Cup for Inter Miami.
Doyle said on MLS MVP voting: “Where is Evander on our respective MVP lists? I think I would have him fifth or sixth. I think there’s an argument at this point, you could put him in front of Messi because Messi just hasn’t played enough. The four are Cucho [Hernandez], Lucho [Acosta], Chicho [Arango], Danny Boanga.
“Then I think either Messi or Evander fifth, and then the other one, six. We know it’s not going to turn out that way. We know that Messi’s name is going to appear on the ballot, and because his name is on the ballot, he will then win even if he’s only played 1,500 minutes. People will just vote for him.”
Messi hasn’t even been Inter Miami’s best player this year
Messi might be the best player in MLS, but as stated, the attacker has played not even half the games available to him this year, with other Inter Miami players like Luis Suarez, Julian Gressel and Drake Callender pushing the Herons to the play-offs.
Although Messi is the big-name star and could be shortlisted for the MVP award, it would be unfair on other Inter Miami players who have been available all year and helped get the Florida franchise into the post-season.
Indeed, Messi returning soon and remaining fit until the end of the year could give the Argentine a chance of winning the MVP award, but for now, there are others in the Inter Miami squad who are more deserving.