Lionel Messi’s debut season in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami has been nothing short of stellar, despite his limited appearances. With 17 goals and 11 assists in just 18 games, Messi ranks among the league’s top contributors, but what makes his performance extraordinary is the per-90-minute metrics. He leads the league in goals, assists, and combined goal contributions per 90 minutes, overperforming expected stats. His rate of 1.73 goal contributions per game is only surpassed by two seasons from his prime at Barcelona.

However, Messi’s limited appearances due to injury—just 55% of Inter Miami’s matches—make his case for the MLS MVP unique. No player in North American men’s sports has won an MVP with such few appearances, raising the question of whether his brilliance in fewer games outweighs other players’ full-season contributions. There are other solid MVP candidates, such as Christian Benteke, Cucho Hernández, and Luciano Acosta, whose full-season performances have significantly impacted their teams.

The debate surrounding Messi’s MVP case draws parallels to past scenarios in sports where elite players missed significant time due to injury but still delivered top-level performances. Notably, Neymar’s 2017-18 season at PSG saw him lead per-game statistics despite missing much of the campaign, yet his team thrived without him. Ultimately, Messi’s standard may transcend usual MVP criteria, leaving the decision to whether his exceptional quality in fewer games will outweigh full-season performances.