In 2024, Lionel Messi was crowned the MLS Most Valuable Player — officially the Landon Donovan MLS MVP — after a season where he lit up the league with 20 goals and 16 assists in just 19 matches. Messi’s performance was dominant enough to earn him the top individual honor even though he missed a good chunk of the season to injury and international duty.
Below, KMSoccer will journey through the history of the MLS MVP award, its criteria, recent winners, and what makes a player MVP-worthy.
What Is the MLS MVP Award
- The MVP in Major League Soccer is the award given annually to the player who is judged to have been most valuable to his club during the regular season.
- It is also known as the Landon Donovan MVP Award, renamed in 2015 to honor Landon Donovan, one of MLS’s most iconic figures.
- Voters include media, other players, and club technical staff. The criteria often include things like goals, assists, influence in big games, leadership, and sometimes “intangibles” beyond raw numbers.
Recent MLS MVPs
Here are the most recent winners, showing how performances and impact change season by season:
- 2024 – Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
- 2023 – Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
- 2022 – Hany Mukhtar
- 2021 – Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
- 2020 – Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC)
These recent winners showcase a mix of goal-scorers, creative midfielders, and players who not only put points on the board but also steered their teams through tough stretches.
Historic Highlights & Memorable MVP Seasons
To understand what it takes to become MLS MVP, some past winners stand out because their seasons were especially exceptional:
- In MLS’s inaugural year (1996), Carlos Valderrama won it — a legend beginning with flair, leadership, and unmatched playmaking.
- Preki is the only player to win the MVP award twice (1997 and 2003).
- Sebastian Giovinco’s 2015 season: 22 goals + 16 assists, electrifying Toronto FC and bringing a new creative benchmark.
- Carlos Vela in 2019 also joined the “20 goals + 15 assists” club — he dominated that season for LAFC.
Messi’s 2024 season placed him among those few elite players who reach those thresholds of scoring + assisting, while also impacting team success (like helping Inter Miami to their first-ever Supporters’ Shield).
What Made Messi the 2024 MVP
Messi’s award wasn’t just about raw numbers, though those are impressive:
- Goal contributions: 20 goals + 16 assists in just 19 regular-season matches — that’s one of the highest rates in MLS history.
- Efficiency: He missed many matches due to injury or national team duty but still produced enough to outshine those who played more.
- Team impact: Inter Miami grabbed the Supporters’ Shield — meaning they had the best regular-season record — and set a single-season league points record (74). Messi’s contributions were central to that success.
- Recognition by voters: He beat out serious contenders (e.g. Cucho Hernández, Evander, Luis Suárez) in a close vote.
Full List Of MLS MVP Winners Since 1996
For those who love stats, here are some of the past winners:
- 1996: Carlos Valderrama
- 1997: Preki
- 1998: Marco Etcheverry
- 1999: Jason Kreis
- 2000: Tony Meola
- 2001: Álex Pineda Chacón
- 2002: Carlos Ruíz
- 2003: Preki
- 2004: Amado Guevara
- 2005: Taylor Twellman
- 2006: Christian Gómez
- 2007: Luciano Emilio
- 2008: Guillermo Barros Schelotto
- 2009: Landon Donovan
- 2010: David Ferreira
- 2011: Dwayne De Rosario
- 2012: Chris Wondolowski
- 2013: Mike Magee
- 2014: Robbie Keane
- 2015: Sebastian Giovinco
- 2016: David Villa
- 2017: Diego Valeri
- 2018: Josef Martínez
- 2019: Carlos Vela
- 2020: Alejandro Pozuelo
- 2021: Carles Gil
- 2022: Hany Mukhtar
- 2023: Luciano Acosta
- 2024: Lionel Messi
Why This Award Matters
- It’s prestigious — being called MVP means you’re not just great, but arguably the best in the league that season.
- It often correlates with team success, though not always. Some MVPs have put up legendary personal records even when their team didn’t win titles.
- It can raise a player’s profile globally, open doors for bigger moves, endorsement deals, and legacy status.
Conclusion
Who was MLS MVP in 2024? It was Lionel Messi, delivered one of the most efficient, flashy, and high-impact seasons in MLS history. Knowing who was MLS MVP shows more than just a name — it tells us which player defined the league that year: through goals, assists, leadership, and unforgettable moments.
For fans of stats, history, or current developments, the MVP award is one benchmark every season. To stay up-to-date with upcoming winners, analyses of contenders, and all things MLS and global football, keep following KMSoccer: we break down the numbers, tell the stories, and connect you to the passion of the game.
If you enjoyed this, why not check out our articles on “Top MLS Goalscorers Ever”, “Most Clutch MLS Performers”, or projections for the 2025 MLS MVP contenders?
