By Joiner Martinez
Sep 16, 2024, 7:36 PM EDT
The MLS is approaching its final stages and the fight for the top spot and the playoffs continues, with Inter Miami taking center stage, once again stealing the spotlight in their victory over Philadelphia Union with the return of Lionel Messi.
Messi led Inter Miami to a comeback win with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win over Union, earning him a spot in the Best XI of the Week alongside Luis Suarez, who also contributed a goal and an assist.
After this performance, Messi was named the best player of matchday 32 of the MLS in his first match after two months out due to injury.
The Albiceleste’s ’10’ has already won four MLS Player of the Week awards this year, having also won those for weeks 9, 11 and 12.
In total, Inter Miami has taken home seven of these awards this season, after Luis Suárez won the awards for Matchdays 3, 5 and 29.
After recovering from the ankle injury he sustained on July 14 in the Copa America Final, Messi now has 14 goals and 14 assists in this MLS campaign.
Inter Miami leads the Eastern Conference with 62 points and is the main favorite to win this year’s MLS Supporters’ Shield, the title that goes to the team with the most points in the regular season.
Messi and Suarez in the ideal 11
Messi and Luis Suárez contributed to Inter Miami’s victory over Union, earning them a spot in the best eleven of the week.
They were joined by Riqui Puig who was the star in the Galaxy’s comeback against LAFC in the El Tráfico Classic, along with his teammate Dejan Joveljic who scored two goals.
The rest of the team is made up of Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gaul, Colorado Rapids’ Djorje Mihailovic and Montreal’s Caden Clark. In defense, Orlando City’s Rafael Santos, Seattle Sounders’ Jackson Ragen and Houston Dynamo’s Griffin Dorsey are joined in goal by New York City’s Matt Freese.
The coach who was singled out in the best eleven is Gregg Vanney, who led the Los Angeles Galaxy to an epic comeback.
On the bench of the ideal eleven are Dayne St. Clair (MIN), Jalen Neal (LA), Jordi Alba (MIA), Jonathan Osorio (TOR), Amine Bassi (HOU), Paul Rothrock (SEA), Hany Mukhtar (NSH) , Facundo Torres (ORL), Georgios Koutsias (CHI).
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