Messi scored 20 goals in 19 games and 15 starts. Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke of D.C. United scored 23 in 30 games. Denis Bouanga of LAFC scored 20 in 32 games. Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez scored 20 in 27 games and Cucho Hernandez of the Columbus Crew, the runner up for league MVP scored 19 in 27 games.

Lionel Messi may not have capped the season the way that he would've wanted to with an MLS Cup title, but he has become the league MVP following a strong season. It was a close vote to beat out Cucho Hernandez of the Columbus Crew that was determined by players,

Messi wound up with 38.4% of the average vote, while Hernández got 33.7%. Portland Timbers midfielder Evander (9.2%), D.C. United’s Christian Benteke (7.1%), and Messi's Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez (2.2%) rounded out the top five in the voting.