Introduction
Major League Soccer (MLS) has seen some of the greatest talents in world football grace its fields — from domestic stars like Landon Donovan and Chris Wondolowski to international icons like David Villa, Carlos Vela, and most recently Lionel Messi. Each season, the league’s most outstanding player receives the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. But one question often arises among fans: has any player in MLS history ever won the MVP in consecutive years?
The History of the MLS MVP Award
The MVP award was first introduced in 1996, the league’s inaugural season. Originally called the Honda MLS Most Valuable Player Award, it was renamed in 2015 to honor Landon Donovan, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in MLS history.
Since its inception, the MVP has celebrated attacking brilliance, playmaking creativity, and goal-scoring dominance. Past winners include names like:
- Preki (1997, 2003)
- Carlos Ruiz (2002)
- David Villa (2016)
- Carlos Vela (2019)
- Hany Mukhtar (2022)
- Lionel Messi (2024)
Has Anyone Won Two Straight MLS MVPs?
The short answer: No.
Several players have managed to win the award more than once, but none have done it in back-to-back seasons. For example:
- Preki won twice (1997, 2003), but six years apart.
- Alejandro Pozuelo (2020) and Carles Gil (2021) won in consecutive years, but they were different players.
- Hany Mukhtar came close, winning in 2022 and finishing as a finalist in 2023, but couldn’t repeat.
This makes the feat of back-to-back MVPs one of the few milestones in MLS history that remains untouched.
Lionel Messi’s Historic Opportunity
With Lionel Messi winning the 2024 MLS MVP, speculation is already growing about whether he could become the first-ever player to win consecutive MVP honors. Given his form, global impact, and Inter Miami’s strong roster, Messi stands as the leading candidate to break the streak in 2025.
If he succeeds, it would not only cement his MLS legacy but also add another “first” to his unparalleled career achievements.
Why Back-to-Back MVPs Are So Difficult in MLS
Several factors make repeating as MVP especially challenging:
- League Parity: MLS is structured to ensure competitive balance through salary caps, designated players, and allocation money.
- Emerging Stars: Each year, new breakout players (domestic and international) enter the league and challenge established stars.
- Team Performance: MVP voting often favors players from winning teams. Even great individual seasons can be overlooked if the club underperforms.
Conclusion
So far, Major League Soccer has never had a player win two straight MVP awards. Multiple-time winners exist, but the elusive back-to-back crown remains unclaimed. With Lionel Messi now in MLS and already making history, all eyes are on him in 2025 to see if he can finally break this long-standing barrier.