“The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Inter Miami in the summer and made an instant impact on the team,” a statement from the club read. “Playing a key role in helping the team secure the Leagues Cup 2023 title, a first for the team.

“Messi also earned individual accolades for his performances in the process winning the League Cup Best Player and Top Scorer awards after registering an impressive 10 goals and four assists in seven games in the competition.”

Lewis Morgan was the first MVP, when franchise debuted in MLS in 2020. Then the baton was grabbed by Brazilian Gregore before Gonzalo Higuain, the team’s all-time leading scorer, won it last year.

Messi is now concentrating with the Albiceleste in his country, ahead of the world champions’ matches against Uruguay, at home, and Brazil, in the Conmebol qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

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The defending FIFA world champions will next take to the field on Thursday, November 16 as they face two-time World Cup winners, Uruguay in Argentina in the COMNEBOL qualifiers.

They then head for a mouthwatering blockbuster clash against Brazil on Tuesday, November 22. It’s one of the biggest fixtures in soccer and pits the leaders of the two conferences against each other, with them both possessing the same record.