The Argentine superstar is almost certain to be the best player in American domestic soccer this year… but what if he isn't?!
We all know who the world will be watching in MLS this season. His name is Lionel Messi, and his resume speaks for itself. Few, if any, have ever done it better, and as he prepares for his first full season in MLS, expectations are high as can be.
Messi has conquered it all, for club and country, and everyone expects him to conquer MLS this season. He's simply too good not to, right? If Messi stays healthy, he'll undoubtedly put up numbers as he begins this first full season with Inter Miami.
The question is, though, if Messi can be the best. He's the MLS MVP favorite, for sure, but he's far from the only superstar in this league. None have his resume, fame or expectations, but there are plenty of players that could rival the Argentinian icon for the title of MLS' best in 2024.
With that said, GOAL takes a look at the other contenders for MLS MVP that will look to prevent Messi from claiming the throne…
Getty Images10The newcomers
More likely than not, there will be a first-year player in the mix. The question is which one?
The Seattle Sounders are very good, and Pedro de la Vega could light it up in that team. Luis Muriel and Emil Forsberg are Europe-proven and are joining teams that are built for them to thrive in the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City, respectively. FC Dallas spent big money on Petar Musa, while the Chicago Fire did the same on Hugo Cuypers.
Any of the above could be in the race, as all of the players mentioned could theoretically put up monster numbers. If there's one newcomer to bet on, though, it's likely a familiar face that's now in pink…
AdvertisementGetty Images9Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)
This is a longshot for several reasons, but it is worth discussing.
First of all, we have no clue what to make of Suarez this season. He looked great in Brazil for Gremio, but we all know that his knees could go at any point. His fitness will need to be managed, which means he probably won't play or score enough to really be in the MVP conversation.
Secondly, if anyone on Miami is going to win this award, it's probably Messi. If Suarez does score, more likely than not, it'll be from a Messi assist. As a result, it feels almost impossible for Suarez to beat his long-time friend to the prize.
Still, there's a scenario where Suarez puts up a record-breaking amount of goals against MLS defenses that have no idea how to cope with him. Because of that, even if it's a longshot, he should be considered a contender.
Getty Images8Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo)
You won't see too many central midfielders in the mix for MVP, but Herrera is more than good enough to break the mold.
The Mexico international helped lift the Houston Dynamo to a U.S. Open Cup trophy last season, and it can be argued that no midfielder is more influential for their team. The Dynamo aren't the sexiest team and Herrera wouldn't be the sexiest MVP candidate, but there are few players in MLS more important to their team than Herrera.
A recent injury could impact his candidacy, but if its not as bad as the Dynamo fear, he'll be key.
Getty Images7Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
No player contributes to a higher percentage of his team's goals than Nashville SC star Mukhtar. We'll have to see what type of numbers he can run up this season, though.
The 2022 MLS MVP has 58 goals and 38 assists in just 113 appearances, a ridiculous number all things considered. He has some help arriving (finally) in former Premier League striker Sam Surridge, but it remains to be seen how that impacts Mukhtar's contributions in the long-term.
Will Surridge eat away at some of Mukhtar's goal contributions, easing the pressure on him? Or will he be just another weapon in the attack for another massive season?