Messi leads the race for the most prestigious MLS award

Lionel Messi is included in the list of top 5 candidates for the MLS Most Valuable Player award.

The competition for the 2025 MLS Most Valuable Player (MVP) award features leading attacking stars who have made a significant impact throughout the season. Recently, the league organizers announced the final five nominees for this year's MVP award.

Accordingly, with his outstanding performance for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has been nominated for the second consecutive time, alongside Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC).

Messi is currently the frontrunner for this season’s MVP title. The Argentine superstar finished the season with 29 goals and 19 assists, winning the MLS Golden Boot and playing a crucial role in helping Inter Miami secure a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs.

If honored this year, Messi would become the first MLS player to win the MVP award two years in a row, a feat no one has achieved before.

Denis Bouanga of LAFC, who was runner-up last season, remains on the nominee list after another excellent campaign, scoring 24 goals and providing 9 assists, serving as a key figure in his team’s attack.

Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC also made the nominee list due to his impressive debut season, becoming the fourth player in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single season, with 19 goals and 19 assists. The other two nominees are Evander from FC Cincinnati and Sam Surridge from Nashville SC, both of whom significantly contributed to their teams' playoff contention.

The Coach of the Year award (Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year) recognizes three coaches who have led remarkable breakthroughs with their teams. Mikey Varas of San Diego FC guided the expansion team to the highest points total ever achieved by a new MLS club, while establishing an energetic attacking style and setting multiple scoring records.

Bradley Carnell of Philadelphia Union revitalized the team after a slump, turning them into top contenders in the Eastern Conference through proactive and effective pressing tactics.

Meanwhile, the signing of coach Jesper Sorensen brought great success to Vancouver Whitecaps, as the Danish coach led the team to finish second in the Western Conference this season.

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