MLS
Everything you need to know about the MLS 2024 Year-End Awards: nominees, voting, dates
MLS have revealed the list of nominees for the upcoming MVP awards.
The full list of MLS 2024 Year-End Awards and nominations has been revealed by the league and as you may expect, Inter Miami feature heavily given their astounding Supporters’ Shield success.
However, things are not so simple and the award is not Lionel Messi’s before we’ve even got going, as the league has seen a plethora of talented figures express themselves to the fullest on the pitches across the nation, and the question as to who performed the best might just be the most difficult one in MLS history.
Full list of MLS 2024 Year-End Awards nominees
MLS Landon Donovan MVP nominees:
Given to the Most Valuable Player in MLS during the 2024 regular season. Eligible players must have played at least 1,000 minutes during the 2024 regular season.
Acosta, Luciano - FC Cincinnati
Arango, Cristian - Real Salt Lake
Artur - Houston Dynamo FC
Benteke, Christian - D.C. United
Bernardeschi, Federico - Toronto FC
Bouanga, Denis - LAFC
Bürki, Roman - St. Louis CITY SC
Espinoza, Cristian - San Jose Earthquakes
Evander - Portland Timbers
Freese, Matt - New York City FC
Gauld, Ryan - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Gazdag, Dániel - Philadelphia Union
Gil, Carles - New England Revolution
Hernández, Cucho - Columbus Crew
Kahlina, Kristijan - Charlotte FC
Lobjanidze, Saba - Atlanta United
López, Hernán - San Jose Earthquakes
Martínez, Josef - CF Montréal
Messi, Lionel - Inter Miami CF
Mihailovic, Djordje - Colorado Rapids
Morgan, Lewis - New York Red Bulls
Morris, Jordan - Seattle Sounders FC
Navarro, Rafael - Colorado Rapids
Ojeda, Martín - Orlando City SC
Orellano, Luca - FC Cincinnati
Osorio, Jonathan - Toronto FC
Piette, Samuel - CF Montréal
Puig, Riqui - LA Galaxy
Rodríguez, Jonathan - Portland Timbers
Rodríguez, Santiago - New York City FC
Rusnák, Albert - Seattle Sounders FC
Suárez, Luis - Inter Miami CF
Torres, Facundo - Orlando City SC
White, Brian - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Can fans vote in the MLS 2024 Year-End Awards?
Unfortunately not. The MLS website states that “MLS clubs determine nominees and can nominate a maximum of two players for certain awards”, adding that they “are determined via voting from three groups (each one-third):
- MLS players
- MLS club technical staff
- Select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2024 MLS regular season
According to the official statement, voting “will open on October 7 and conclude on October 21, shortly after Decision Day (end of MLS regular season)”.
However, fans can vote on the top plays of the season with both the AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year. To do so, they must go to MLSsoccer.com and cast their vote there.
Is Lionel Messi nominated for the MLS MVP award?
Yes. Lionel Messi is nominated for the MLS Landon Donovan Award, but whether or not he is a frontrunner is a genuinely debatable topic. The attacker has played a bit-part role in Inter Miami’s success this season, having fallen to injury earlier in the year and subsequently spent most of his time in the Inter Miami recovery room, playing a total of just 18 games.
However, in those games, the World Cup winner scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists, showing that his quality has not dipped when he is on the pitch. Instead of Messi, Riqui Puig, who had 13 goals and 15 assists with the Los Angeles Galaxy, is tipped as a potential favourite.
As well as him, Cucho Hernández’s 19 goals for Columbus Crew puts him well in the mix along with Los Angeles FC’s Dénis Bouanga who also scored 19 goals, a third of his club’s total number. Former Premier League striker Christian Benteke is also an option given the fact that he is the outright top scorer in MLS with 23, having netted two hat tricks and more than a goal in a game on five occasions. With Decision Day edging closer, it’s not long before we see the nominees become award winners in what has been a sensational season in North America.