Inter Miami star Lionel Messi said that he would have liked to receive the American League Player of the Year award “in different circumstances.”

Inter Miami was eliminated from the American League playoffs, after winning the “Fans’ Award” for the best team in the regular season.

Messi spoke after announcing his victory in the award that bears the name of former American player Landon Donovan, saying: “I would have liked to receive this award in other circumstances, by qualifying for the league final on Saturday.”

He added: “We had a big dream of being crowned champions of the league this year. This did not happen, but next year we will come back stronger and we will try again.”

In the Barcelona legend's first full season in the American League, since joining from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2023, the world champion scored 20 goals and made 16 assists in 19 matches.

He also led his team to achieve a record for the most points in a league regular season (74), but Inter Miami was eliminated from the first stage in the playoffs.

"The best player in the world"

Messi (37 years old) became the first player from Inter Miami to win the American League's Best Player award, beating competitors such as his teammate Luis Suarez, and joining players such as Mexican Carlos Vela and Italian Sebastian Giovinco.

Don Garber, the commissioner of the American League, said in his congratulations to Messi: “On behalf of the league, the entire country, and every fan of the game in the world, we are honored to have the best player in the world in our competition.”

Messi, an 8-time Ballon d'Or winner, is looking forward to achieving an exceptional achievement with Inter Miami in the Club World Cup next year. He will start his career against Al-Ahly of Egypt, then face Palmeiras of Brazil and Porto of Portugal.