Major League Soccer has announced the shortlist for the 2025 season’s top honors across various categories.
As expected, global superstar Lionel Messi has been named among the nominees for the Footballer of the Season award.
The Inter Miami captain is on the verge of making history as the first player to win the Landon Donovan MLS MVP — awarded to the league’s best player — for two consecutive seasons.
Messi faces competition from LAFC’s Denis Bouanga, San Diego FC’s Anhes Dahaya, FC Cincinnati’s Evander, and Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge in this category.
The Argentine captain leads the ongoing MLS season in both goals (29) and assists (19). Interestingly, four of the top five goal scorers are also on the MVP shortlist. Among them, Dahaya and Evander feature in the top five assist providers as well.
Dahaya also appears on the shortlist for the Newcomer of the Season award, alongside LAFC’s Son Heung-min and Chicago Fire’s Philip Zinckernagel.
The winners of the Goal of the Season and Save of the Season will be determined through online voting, with results set to be announced next Monday. The MLS Team of the Season will be revealed later.
