Lionel Messi Beaten to MLS MVP Award by Fellow Argentine Luciano Acosta

• Lionel Messi has been pipped to the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award
• The award was won by Messi's fellow Argentine Luciano Acosta
• Acosta claimed the prize after an impressive season with FC Cincinnati

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has been beaten to the MLS MVP award by fellow Argentine Luciano Acosta.

The legendary forward joined the Florida-based outfit in June after departing Paris Saint-Germain.

According to BBC, Messi snubbed a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal and a possible reunion with Barcelona to join Inter Miami.

The 35-year-old went on to have a bright start to life with the MLS side, scoring a spectacular stoppage-time free-kick on his debut against the New York Red Bulls.

The World Cup winner went on to inspire his new club to their first major honour as he helped them win the Leagues Cup after scoring 10 goals and bagging one assist from seven matches.

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Messi beaten to MVP award

However, this was not enough to help him win the MLS MVP award, with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner pipped to the award by fellow countryman Acosta.

TalkSPORT reports that Messi was not even named in the top three of the 2023 MLS season, with that largely down to him arriving midway through the campaign.

As such, Acosta scooped the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award by a landslide win.

Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga finished second with 14.97 per cent, while Atlanta's Thiago Almada came third with 6.46 per cent.

Acosta enjoyed an impressive campaign with FC Cincinnati, scoring 17 times in the regular season, and once in the playoffs.

He also bagged a further 12 assists across competitions.

Argentina fans on Messi vs Maradona

Sports Brief earlier reported on Argentina fans picking between Diego Maradona and Messi as the country's greatest player.

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Seven people were asked the divisive question and the result went 5-2 in favour of the former Napoli and Boca Juniors captain.

This is definitely a huge debate in Argentina, which was blessed with the two geniuses who led the country to global success.