Leo Messi Named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA for Matchday 2 | OneFootball

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA for Matchday 2 after a standout display against Orlando City on Sunday.

According to Inter Miami, it was the club's first away win over their rivals. Messi struck twice in a 4-2 comeback victory.

He scored from outside the box in the 57th minute, then curled a free-kick into the bottom-left corner in the 90th minute.

The brace was the 17th multi-goal regular-season match of his career, and his fourth in his last six regular-season appearances dating back to last season. He now has 89 regular-season goal contributions, 52 goals and 37 assists, in 55 games.

It is the 13th time Messi has earned MLS Player of the Matchday, the third-most in league history, trailing only Landon Donovan on 19 and Jeff Cunningham on 14.

Since the start of 2024, roughly one in every six Player of the Matchday awards has gone to Messi.

The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA is decided each matchday via media and fan voting run by MLS Communications. A North American Soccer Reporters panel accounts for 75 percent, with an Instagram fan vote making up the remaining 25 percent. NASR includes members of print, television, radio and online media.

Source: Inter Miami