Lionel Messi is one of five finalists for the 2026 Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award, SPORT1 reported on Wednesday, putting him in position to win the honor for a third year.
The 39-year-old Argentine forward paced Inter Miami through the regular season with 26 goals across 31 appearances, claiming the league’s scoring title. His club now enters the upcoming postseason as the defending champion.
- Award voters from clubs, player rosters, and select media will finalize the ballots during the ongoing knockout phase.
Messi made history in 2025 by becoming just the second player in MLS history to secure the MVP trophy twice. Only American player Predrag Preki Radosavljevic previously achieved that feat, winning the award in 1997 and 2003.
Alongside Messi, the 2026 finalist shortlist features former Bundesliga player Hany Mukhtar representing Nashville SC. Brazilian attackers Evander of FC Cincinnati and Guilherme of Houston Dynamo also secured nominations, alongside American teenager Cavan Sullivan from Philadelphia Union.
Additional category finalists include Vancouver Whitecaps coach Jesper Sörensen named among the top three managers. Orlando City’s Antoine Griezmann earned a spot for newcomer of the year, while Roman Bürki of St. Louis City stands as a finalist for goalkeeper of the year, and German midfielder Eduard Löwen contends for comeback player of the year.
The winner of the MVP award will be revealed by league officials over the course of the postseason matches.
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