Lionel Messi Named MLS Player of the Month for April

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi has been voted Major League Soccer (MLS) Player of the Month for April 2024. 

In just four MLS appearances and 315 minutes on the pitch this past month, the Argentine maestro led the MLS with 10 goal contributions, coming from six goals and four assists - registering at least one goal and one assist in each match - averaging a goal contribution every 31.5 minutes of action. Messi led an Inter Miami squad that finished the month with a 3-0-1 record and sits atop the Supporters’ Shield standings. He played a pivotal role in the team's 12 goals scored in April, directly contributing to 10 of them.

In his latest milestone performance, Messi etched his name into MLS history with an outstanding brace and assist against the New England Revolution last weekend, shattering the previous record for the most goal contributions by a player in their first seven games of an MLS season. Additionally, Messi made history as the first player to achieve multiple goal contributions in five consecutive MLS matches.

In his first seven games of the 2024 season, Messi has accumulated an astounding 16 goal contributions, nine goals and seven assists. Messi's remarkable triumphs saw him record three more goal contributions than previous record holders, Thierry Henry and Carlos Vela, who each recorded 13 goal contributions in their first seven games of the season in 2012 and 2019 respectively. Messi has led Miami to a 6-2-3 record in 2024 as the Club leads MLS in points (21), points per game (1.91), goals scored (26), and goal differential (plus-10).

In his seven games and 585 minutes on the pitch this MLS season, the Argentine has clinched the top spot in MLS for goals, tallying nine thus far, and shares the lead among the league’s top assist providers with seven assists. His ability to consistently deliver goals and assists has been instrumental in Inter Miami CF's success this season. Spearheading the Herons, he has propelled the team to the top position in the Supporters’ Shield race with 21 points for the season.

Messi becomes the second Inter Miami star to win MLS Player of the Month honors this season. Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez was the first player in Club history to be named MLS Player of the Month after winning for February and March. Inter Miami is the third club in MLS history to have two different players win first two Player of the Month honors to start a season, joining the LA Galaxy in 2004 (Carlos Ruiz and Alejandro Moreno) and the 2000 Kansas City Wizards (Miklos Molnar and Tony Meola). In his career, Messi has earned 10 Player of the Month honors – eight with FC Barcelona, one with Paris Saint-Germain, and now one with Inter Miami CF.

Messi and Inter Miami will look to retain their status atop the table as the team gears up to host the New York Red Bulls at Chase Stadium on Matchday 12 this Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET in their second meeting of the season. 

MLS Player of the Month is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.