Major League Soccer announced the finalists for the 2026 MLS Year-End Awards, with Inter Miami CF captain Leo Messi named among the finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award. With his nomination for the award, Messi now has the chance to make history by becoming the first player in MLS history to claim the MVP award in three consecutive seasons.
Messi features amongst the finalists for the award following a standout regular season. Our Club captain once again had a regular season for the history books, scoring 26 goals in 31 appearances to claim the 2026 MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi and become the first player in MLS history to win the award in consecutive seasons. The Argentine maestro also contributed a team-leading 17 assists throughout the regular season.
Throughout the regular season Messi also earned various accolades, winning the Goal of the Matchday a notable seven times (matchdays 2, 8, 11, 23, 26, 28, and 29), while also featuring in the MLS Team of the Matchday 13 times.
Among the finalists for the 2026 MLS Year-End Awards are individuals representing 15 MLS clubs, with the winners set to be announced throughout the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The finalists for the annual awards received the highest average votes from MLS club technical staff, MLS first-team players, and select media members, with each group accounting for 33.3 percent of the overall results. The MLS Humanitarian of the Year award was determined by votes from four groups, each accounting for 25 percent of the total – club technical staff, MLS first-team players, select media members, and community relations staff.
Landon Donovan MLS MVP
- Evander (FC Cincinnati)
- Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC)
- Leo Messi (Inter Miami CF)
- Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
- Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year
- B. J. Callaghan (Nashville SC)
- Yoann Damet (St. Louis CITY SC)
- Jesper Sørensen (Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS Humanitarian of the Year
- Paul Arriola (Seattle Sounders FC)
- Andrew Farrell (New England Revolution)
- Telasco Segovia (Inter Miami CF)
- Mason Stajduhar (Real Salt Lake)
- Brad Stuver (Austin FC)
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
- Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
- Nick Hagglund (FC Cincinnati)
- Eduard Löwen (San Jose Earthquakes)
MLS Defender of the Year
- Andy Najar (Nashville SC)
- Jeisson Palacios (Nashville SC)
- Maxwell Woledzi (Nashville SC)
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
- Roman Bürki (St. Louis CITY SC)
- Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
- Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
MLS Newcomer of the Year
- Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City SC)
- Guilherme (Houston Dynamo FC)
- André Luiz (Sporting Kansas City)
MLS Young Player of the Year
- Julian Hall (Red Bull New York)
- Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York)
- Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
The MLS AT&T Goal of the Year (Vote Here) and MLS Save of the Year (Vote Here) will be decided by online voting at MLSsoccer.com. Voting opened on Monday, Nov. 9, and will close on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year award recipients will be announced on Friday, Nov. 13, and the MLS Best XI will be revealed at a later date.
