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Lionel Messi was voted Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player on Friday after guiding Inter Miami to a league-record regular season.
The Argentine great received the award as his exploits led Miami to a record regular season points total, winning the club its first Supporters Shield.
"Truly, it is an honor for me to receive this award from all of you," Messi told the Inter Miami players, as reported by the Times of India.
"It makes me proud to watch you all train. I'm delighted to be here every day. I'm delighted to be in this city and in this developing club. [...] It's a delight to see you grow day after day. "I encourage you to keep fighting and striving for your dreams," he said.
The 37-year-old maestro concluded the regular season with a league-high 36 goal contributions, including 20 goals and 16 assists.
Messi's MVP title comes despite an injury-plagued season that saw him make only 19 matches this year.
Miami and Messi's season ended abruptly when the club was eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Messi is the 10th South American to win the MVP, and the fifth from Argentina, following Luciano Acosta, Diego Valeri, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Christian Gomez.
The football legend went on to express his disappointment that Inter Miami failed to make the playoffs and were eliminated in the first round by Atlanta United.
"I would have liked to receive this award in another situation, being able to play on Saturday," Messi remarked, according to the Miami Herald.
Miami was expected to win the MLS Cup final, or at least go to the finals, but the LA Galaxy will face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday for the title.
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