MLS awards 2024: Our picks for MVP, coach of the year, Best XI and more

Lionel Messi played a little more than half of Inter Miami’s regular season games this year but is on the shortlist for most valuable player.

Last year, The Athletic’s MLS writers questioned the Argentina captain’s nomination for newcomer of the year. This year, the MVP argument is far less contested, but contested nonetheless.

And while there is a clear winner for each of the defensive awards, Luis Suarez isn’t the only player valued as newcomer of the year.

Here’s how our MLS writers voted for MVP, defender of the year, coach of the year, Best XI and more.

Most Valuable Player

Pablo Maurer: Yes, I understand that Messi was injured for a long stretch of Miami’s season. I also understand that during that stretch, Miami did not miss him — not statistically, at least. And I understand that there are other players — Cucho Hernández comes to mind — that likely have a rightful claim to this award as well. Yet Messi, despite missing 15 matches, has been the most dominant attacking player in MLS by a wide margin.

MLS conspiracy theorists will claim that the league, and Miami, will ensure that Messi wins this award. In reality, Messi wins because he’s made the league itself look like child’s play. And this is to say nothing of his effect on MLS’ global perception and its business interests. He is undoubtedly the highest-profile player in league history, and he hasn’t disappointed.

Felipe Cárdenas: Inter Miami indeed learned to win without Messi, but they weren’t steam-rolling teams while he was at the Copa America with Argentina. When he was rested before the summer, Inter Miami lost games to New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati by a combined score of 10-1.

The data supports Messi as the MVP, too. He had better or even numbers than the other top candidates for the award after playing only 19 games. Those facts made it an easy decision for me, and I submitted my vote before his Decision Day hat-trick against New England. He’s been Messi. That’s really difficult to contend with. Sorry, Cucho.

Paul Tenorio: I really just don’t get the movement to push someone else as the league MVP. I get that Messi didn’t play the whole season, but he played enough to lift Inter Miami to the Supporters’ Shield — there is no way they would have won the Shield without him — and he was the best player in MLS when he was on the field.

The guy scored 20 goals with 16 assists in 19 games, finishing second in MLS in both categories. He was dominant, his team was the best in MLS. It’s an easy one for me.

Jeff Rueter: This year, anyone who doesn’t have Messi as an MVP is going to be branded a contrarian. I guess that’s my role to play on our staff.

Ultimately, this gets into the nitty-gritty of MLS choosing to award a “most valuable player” as its top individual honor rather than a “player of the year.”

Cucho Hernández is the attacking soul of another all-time great MLS team. The Colombian also missed significant time, playing 27 of 34 possible games compared to Messi’s 19. Hernández was tied for second with 12 match-winning goal contributions; Messi’s seven match-winners were tied for 10th. While some might say it’s unfair to ding Messi for a midseason injury, ask Joel Embiid how these American sports award pageants work.

For Messi, half a year of world-class soccer is as good a case as any need to make. I just think Hernandez’s additional workload drove home his value a little bit more.

Goalkeeper of the Year

Maurer: Charlotte has had a lot to sort out on the fly during Dean Smith’s first season, but goalkeeper has been steady as they go. Kristijan Kahlina played every minute this season, helping backstop the club to a fifth-place finish in the East. Only one team, Seattle, allowed fewer goals than Charlotte.

Rueter: The underlying numbers suggest this award is Kahlina’s to win — his +12.3 expected goals prevented is the second-highest output from any goalkeeper over the last six seasons. The only better performer? Djordje Petrovic in 2022 (+14.3), who somehow lost that year’s vote to Andre Blake but settled for a transfer to Chelsea and a corresponding pay raise.

There’s little to no competition in this category, in my view.

Cárdenas: My colleagues at The Athletic know how I feel about Kahlina. In 2023, his howlers had me blowing up the group chat. I was probably too hard on the Croatian. After all, a goalkeeper’s mistakes are always magnified. Kahlina had hype last season, too, but his performances were inconsistent. That changed in 2024. His 12 clean sheets was the best in MLS.

Tenorio: Let the numbers tell the story here.

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Defender of the Year

Rueter: Reputation goes a long way in this category and playing for a top-five defense is generally mandatory. Columbus ranked fourth by conceding just 40 goals, so there’s one box checked.

Steven Moreira enjoys more fluidity in his role than any other defender in MLS. In some phases, he’s tucking into the back line to negate an onrushing attacker. In others, he’s heading wide to occupy the half-space, while he also plays a role in sustaining possession as far upfield as the far edge of the attacking third. He’s the dependable, roaming bedrock upon which Wilfried Nancy’s system is built. For a second straight year, that’s earned my vote in this category.

Cárdenas: I considered FC Cincinnati and U.S. international Miles Robinson for this award. Seattle’s Jackson Ragen, who I believe has a similar profile to Borussia Dortmund center back Niklas Süle. But a defender who isn’t really a defender? I’m always going to be a fan of a player like Moreira.

But as Jeff states very clearly, Moreira is an integral part of Nancy’s rather intricate system. Remove him from the Crew’s XI and they’re a different team, slightly more limited. Moreira can lock down a tricky winger and put pressure on an opposing attacking fullback. His futsal background is a massive advantage, as well. He’s typically calm and at ease when he’s on the ball close to the end line.

(Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

Maurer: I write this fully expecting to get roasted in the comments. To me, though, this is not a controversial take. Miami has been shaky defensively all year as they’ve cycled through options, but Jordi Alba has been defensively sound (as always). He has also put up absurd numbers on the other side of the ball, his four goals and 12 assists made up a key part of Miami’s prolific attack.

Tenorio: I think you have to give credit to a defender who brings more to a team than just pure defending, who is a part of the identity of how a team plays and what makes them special. I’m not sure there was a defender so dominant this year in MLS that it’s worth looking away from Moreira’s value to the Crew.

Newcomer of the Year

Rueter: While fellow new winger Joseph Paintsil was the headliner in the spring, Gabriel Pec’s brilliance shone all season long for the Galaxy. The Brazilian was tied for fifth in MLS with 30 goal contributions — all but one from the run of play. He swiftly assimilated into a multi-faceted LA attack and should continue to threaten MLS defenders for years.

Maurer: It took Pec a little to find his footing in the league, but when he finally acclimated he became a game-changer for the Galaxy and a major reason why LA is back in rarified air. I don’t think Pec will actually win this award; Inter Miami striker Luis Suarez has had an exceptional year and name recognition might push him ahead of Pec in the end. But no player in the league is more deserving than Pec.

Cárdenas: I hear you both on Pec. He has been silky for the Galaxy. I’ll be honest, though, I didn’t expect Suarez to be this good. He was great for Gremio, but after he told the world that he could barely walk or get out of bed in the morning, Suarez felt like a luxury signing that would only be good in flashes. Instead, he helped carry the burden for Inter Miami.

His 20 goals in 28 games (21 starts) made him the obvious choice for this award, one that feels odd considering Suarez is 37. He recently told reporters in Miami that he’d like to be back with Miami for one more year. Who can blame him? He’s turned back the clock. Sunshine and beach life have been good to him.

Tenorio: I am a big Pec fan even though I started the season thinking Paintsil would be the most productive of the two signings. The Galaxy absolutely nailed their two DP additions this offseason. Still, I’m going to go with the guy who I think might end up making a big difference in the playoffs. Suarez is a legend for a reason.

Young Player of the Year

Rueter: Diego Luna finished second in MLS’s annual 22 Under 22 rankings, the same spot I placed him on my ballot. What edges him over Diego Gómez for this award, then? Simply, importance beyond what would be expected of someone his age.

While Gómez is an undeniably talented player in a vital midfield role, Luna has been the team’s chief playmaker since Andrés Gómez’s summer move to Rennes despite only turning 21 in September. The United States youth international has rewarded RSL for their trust, with eight goals and 12 assists across 2,218 minutes. Despite selling their creative fulcrum, Pablo Mastroeni’s side sustained a high level of play to finish third in the West — and they largely had Luna to thank. I suspect he’ll be getting a call from USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino soon.

Cárdenas: Go back and watch Gómez’s first few games with Miami. His touch was off. His decision-making was poor. He received quite a few side-eyed looks from Messi and Suarez.

He was 20 years old at the time and had never played outside of Paraguay. Gómez was managing the pressure of playing with Messi, Sergio Busquets, Suarez and Alba. It was a lot for a young player with high expectations. Now, Gómez is a Premier League talent. His move to Brighton this winter appears to be a formality. Gómez has gone from a deer in headlights to a player who has a vital role in Tata Martino’s midfield.

Tenorio: In a category like this, I simply choose the player I think is the most talented young player in the league and one that is actually making an impact on the field. Gómez has grown into his time at Inter Miami; he’s a top, top player and I think he has massive potential to mature into a special player at the next level.

Comeback Player of the Year

Rueter: In May 2023, Robin Lod underwent surgery for a torn meniscus. The Loons sorely missed Lod, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. By the time the Finland international returned this preseason, he was also adjusting to the departure of the coach who had brought him to MLS, Adrian Heath.

He wasted no time claiming ownership of the attack following Emanuel Reynoso’s departure, too. After years of proving his worth with clinical finishing, Lod played chief distributor and led Minnesota with 15 assists to complement seven goals of his own.

Maurer: After missing the lion’s share of 2023 with a hip injury, Lewis Morgan has bounced back in style for New York and has been arguably their most valuable piece. His fine league play has earned him his first string of national team call-ups in nearly half a decade. The Red Bulls simply are not a playoff team this year without Morgan’s influence, and he deserves this award.

Tenorio: I fully endorse everything Pablo said above. Morgan was very good in 2022, suffered a really difficult injury in 2023 and came back and showed his quality again this year. A hip injury is not easy to come back from and still have the burst and pace that wingers need to beat defenders and perform at a high level.

Credit to Morgan for not just getting back on the field, but doing it at such a high level.

Coach of the Year

Rueter: Awards like this aren’t supposed to consider other competitions. But that’s nearly impossible as auxiliary contests accumulate. Squad management is a crucial part of a coach’s job description. Despite being active in many competitions and dealing with midseason departures (most notably Aidan Morris’ sale to Middlesbrough), Wilfried Nancy kept the defending MLS Cup champion from missing a beat all season long.

To finish second in the Supporters Shield standings despite a congested schedule and a squad that earned over $25 million less in wages than the winner is no small feat.

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Maurer: Nancy has done everything Jeff mentions above and he’s done it while playing the most attractive soccer in the league. There are other variables — ones that probably don’t factor into the voting but matter to fans and consumers of the game: the way Nancy speaks about his craft and the way he engages with fans, media and the like. It’s been a while since MLS had a coach whose personality and passion for the game were matched by results on the field. C’est magnifique.

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Cárdenas: Tata Martino prioritized establishing a winning culture at a club that had grown accustomed to losing.

The 61-year-old Argentine, who won this award in 2018 with Atlanta United, had talent previously unseen in MLS. But he also played Noah Allen, 20, at center back. He relied on David Ruiz, 20, and Benjamin Cremaschi, 19, in midfield and has turned Yannick Bright, 23, into an unexpected gem. Martino kept a dressing room with enormous personalities focused on one goal: winning in 2024.

This team has been riddled with injuries to starters throughout the season. They weren’t the consensus pick to win MLS Cup, either, despite their talent. Nancy may be the best coach in MLS, but Martino has been the best coach in 2024.

Tenorio: For all the people who say Messi isn’t the MVP because Miami was able to win games when he wasn’t on the field, what’s the argument for not making Tata the coach of the year despite missing his best player for 15 games this season? Tough one for me to understand.

The Athletic MLS Staff’s combined Best XI

(Number indicates vote tally among four ballots)

• GK: Kristijan Kahlina (4)
• D1: Steven Moreira (3)
• D2: Jordi Alba (2)
• D3: Miles Robinson (2)
• M1: Riqui Puig (4)
• M2: Luciano Acosta (4)
• M3:  Evander (2)
• M4: Diego Gomez (1)
• F1: Cucho Hernandez (4)
• F2: Lionel Messi (4)
• F3: Christian Benteke (4)

(Note: Several players earned one vote, but Diego Gomez won on a tiebreaker having also been nominated for an individual award by two writers. Also receiving a vote apiece: Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Micael, Sergio Busquets, Adilson Malanda, Robin Lod, Albert Rusnak, Luca Orellano, and Denis Bouanga.)

(Top photos: Imagn Images)