The Major League Soccer (MLS) announced the finalists for each of the categories in the end-of-season awards on Thursday, ahead of the playoffs stage of the league scheduled over the weekend.
The 2024 MLS MVP race is one of the tightest in years, with a number of stars making compelling cases to take home the award. Lionel Messi is predictably among the top favorites to win the Landon Donovan MVP award, and is the leading frontrunner after notching a hat trick in Inter Miami ‘s final regular season win over New England.
Cucho Hernandez is Messi’s biggest challenger for the MLS 2024 award, after the Colombian put together a sensational 19G/14A season as the Crew finished second in MLS.
Luis Suárez displayed some stellar performances as he accumulated 20 goals, while golden boot winner Christian Benteke would have better chances for the award had DC United qualified for the playoffs.
Here are the finalists for each MLS 2024 Award:
Landon Donovan MLS MVP
- Christian Benteke (D.C. United)
- Evander (Portland Timbers)
- Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
- Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF)
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
- Chris Armas (Colorado Rapids)
- Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino (Inter Miami CF)
- Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew)
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
- Robin Lod (Minnesota United FC)
- Maxi Moralez (New York City FC)
- Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls)
MLS Defender of the Year
- Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF)
- Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)
- Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC)
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
- Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)
- Hugo Lloris (LAFC)
- Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)
MLS Newcomer of the Year
- Luca Orellano (FC Cincinnati)
- Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy)
- Luis Suárez (Inter Miami CF)
MLS Young Player of the Year
- Diego Gómez (Inter Miami CF)
- Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)
- Cristian Olivera (LAFC)
Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award
- Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution)
- Darlington Nagbe (Columbus Crew)
- Ilie Sánchez (LAFC)
Also Read: MLS: Which footballing stars had the biggest contracts?
Major League Soccer is a men’s professional soccer league organized by the United States Soccer Federation. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the United States and 3 in Canada—since the 2023 season.
Major League Soccer is the successor to the North American Soccer League (NASL), which existed from 1968 until 1984. The inaugural season of MLS took place in 1996 with ten teams.
