As Messi Nears Mls 15 15 Club His Mvp Case Is A Major Outlier

# As Messi Nears MLS 15-15 Club, His MVP Case Is A Major Outlier ## The MLS 15-15 Club: A Statistical Rarity The MLS 15-15 Club is an exclusive group of players who have recorded 15 goals and 15 assists in a single MLS season. Only two players have achieved this feat to date: Landon Donovan and Sebastian Giovinco. ## Messi's Statistical Dominance Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards and has led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title. In his first season with Inter Miami CF, Messi has recorded 17 goals and 14 assists in 29 appearances. He is on pace to become the third player to join the MLS 15-15 Club. ## Messi's MVP Case: An Outlier While Messi's statistical production has been impressive, his MVP case is somewhat of an outlier. The MVP award is typically given to the player who has the most significant impact on his team's success. In Messi's case, Inter Miami CF finished 14th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 10-16-8. This suggests that Messi's individual brilliance did not translate into team success. ## Factors Contributing to Messi's MVP Candidacy Despite Inter Miami CF's struggles, Messi remains a strong candidate for the MVP award due to the following factors: * **Individual brilliance:** Messi's individual statistics are among the best in the league. He is the leading scorer and assist provider in the MLS. * **Team impact:** While Inter Miami CF did not have a successful season, Messi's presence undoubtedly made them a more dangerous team. He created scoring opportunities for his teammates and helped improve the team's overall play. * **Historical significance:** Messi is one of the most recognizable and successful players in the world. His presence in the MLS has raised the profile of the league and helped attract new fans. ## Conclusion Lionel Messi's statistical production in his first season with Inter Miami CF has been impressive. He is on pace to join the exclusive MLS 15-15 Club. However, his MVP case is somewhat of an outlier due to Inter Miami CF's struggles. Ultimately, the MVP award will likely be decided by a combination of individual production, team impact, and historical significance.