After scoring 20 goals in 19 matches, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was named the 2024 MLS MVP on Friday.

The 37-year-old veteran was a dominant force in his second season with the club, and he played a huge role in Miami posting 22 wins, eight draws and only four losses during the regular season, giving the team an MLS single-season record of 74 points.

In addition to being tied for second in goals scored across the league in 2024, Messi was also tied for third in assists with 16.

What set Messi apart from the players who put up similar stats in 2024 is the fact that he played in far fewer matches than all of them.

While D.C. United's Christian Benteke led MLS with 23 goals, he did so in 30 games, compared to Messi's 19. Also, FC Cincinnati's Luciana Acosta and Portland Timbers' Evander had 20 and 19 assists in 32 and 28 matches, respectively.

After starring for 17 seasons at Barcelona and then two at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi became the biggest signing in MLS history when he arrived stateside in 2023.

Messi has scored nearly 900 goals in his career across all competitions for club and country, putting him firmly in the conversation for greatest soccer player of all time along with Pelé, Cristiano Ronaldo and a select few others.

Winning MLS MVP is another accomplishment added to one of the most impressive résumés in the history of the sport.

Before joining Inter Miami, Messi was an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or as the best soccer player in the world. He also twice won the Golden Ball, which is given to the top player at the FIFA World Cup.

With Messi leading the way, Barca won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. He also won a pair of Ligue 1 titles at PSG.

The crowning achievement of Messi's career may have come in 2022 when he won the World Cup for the first time, leading Argentina to its first World Cup victory since 1986.

Now that Messi has an MLS MVP to his credit, winning the MLS championship is one of the last accolades he has yet to attain.

Inter Miami were favored to win it all last season, but they were shocked by Atlanta United FC in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

With star players such as Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba set to return to the club in 2025, Inter Miami will likely once again be favored to hoist the MLS Cup for the first time.