Major League Soccer announced the finalists for the 2025 MLS Year-End Awards, with Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi named among the finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award. He joins Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Evander (FC Cincinnati), and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) on the shortlist.

Messi returns to the list of finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after claiming the award in 2024. The Argentine played a pivotal role in guiding Inter Miami CF to its best regular season in Club history, achieving the most wins, goals, and points ever and capturing the team’s first Supporters’ Shield while setting a new MLS single season points record with 74. Messi led the league with 36 goal contributions, including 20 goals and 16 assists, the fifth highest total in a single MLS season, and averaged an unprecedented 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes, the best mark in league history.

Among the finalists for the different awards are individuals representing 16 MLS clubs, with the winners set to be announced throughout the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. The finalists for the annual awards earned the highest average...