It’s in the title, folks. Every week during the MLS season, Backheeled will dive into the biggest Winners and Losers from around the league. This week, we’re constructing a fictional MVP race, pondering if Austin FC angered the soccer gods, appreciating a game with real stakes, and more.
Before we dive into the piece: everyone here at Backheeled would like to send our best wishes to Garth Lagerwey. The Atlanta United president and CEO is taking a leave of absence to undergo cancer treatment. So, so many things are more important than soccer. Get well soon, Garth. We’re all behind you.
Winner: The (fictional) MVP race
The real MVP race goes down as a loser, obviously. Why? Well, because it’s no race at all. If Lionel Messi’s name is on the ballet for anything in MLS, he wins it. He won last year’s MVP award and he’ll win this year’s, too.
No, the real MVP race fun starts to spark when you imagine a fictional world where Messi is a 24-year-old attacker who arrived in Miami straight from his native top flight and is now his second full MLS season. Even if we ignore the name and look simply at the resume, the No. 10 is making an excellent case for himself to be awarded MVP come the season’s end. He’s scored two goals in each of his last five(!) MLS games, including a brace in a 2-1 win over Nashville SC on Saturday.
