Lionel Messi with only one goal and Sergio Busquets nominated for MLS Player of the Year award

Faruq Ibrahim 22:10 - 06 October 2023

Despite a paltry four and eight appearances respectively, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been nominated for the MLS Player of the Year Award.

Barcelona legends Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have been named as nominees for the MLS Player of the Year Award despite their scanty number of league appearances.

The pair, alongside Jordi Alba, were major reinforcements for Inter Miami this summer, changing the fortunes of the club and leading them to two finals, one of which they won.

Football

Okocha leaves out Messi in his all-time XI

Football

Ibrahimovic on how his Ferarri and Messi led to a fall out with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona

Messi and Busquets exploits in the MLS

Although their stint in North America has been majorly successful, the former Barcelona duo have barely played league games, as they joined the club while the league was on break.

Messi, with support from the 2010 World Cup winner, led the Miami-based team to their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup. They also came close to winning the US Open Cup, but the Argentinian's absence made them fall casualty to a vengeful Houston Dynamo in the final.

Both players, Messi and Busquets, have been nominated for the Player of the Year gong, despite playing only four and eight games, respectively. The Argentine has also only scored one goal in the competition.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami midfielder || Photo Credit: AP

Busquets has an agreement in place with Miami through the 2025 campaign, the same as Messi's.

How the winner is selected

The voting for the award begins on October 10 and ends on October 23. The award and other end-of-the-year individual titles are voted for by three sects.

Current coaches, technical directors and general managers of MLS clubs

Players of MLS teams

Members of the media