How did a Greek player outshine Lionel Messi to win MLS Newcomer of the Year

Lionel Messi has just secured his unprecedented eighth Ballon d'Or award, thanks to his phenomenal performance in Argentina's triumph at the World Cup in Qatar. His mid-season move to Inter Miami in July has brought the spotlight to Major League Soccer (MLS), with fans flocking to every Miami game to witness his brilliance firsthand. 

Adding to the spectacle, Messi even led the struggling Miami to victory in the Leagues Cup, securing their first-ever trophy. However, despite his undeniable status as the greatest footballer in history, the 36-year-old legend had to settle for second place in the MLS Newcomer of the Year voting, which took place on Thursday. 

In a surprising turn of events, Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis has taken the MLS by storm, emerging as the unexpected recipient of this prestigious award. His achievement has made history for Atlanta United, becoming the first team to win the consecutive accolade since Messi's compatriot Thiago Almada was honored in 2022.  

Giakoumakis, who moved from Scottish giants Celtic in February, made an immediate impact in his first season, leaving an indelible mark on the league. With an impressive tally of 17 goals and three assists in 27 games, his consistent performances earned him votes from a wide range of MLS stakeholders, including reporters, players, coaches, as well as technical staff.

Giakoumakis secured an impressive 45.8 percent of the votes, surpassing his fellow finalists Messi (27.3 percent) and Eduard Lowen of St. Louis City SC (15.4 percent). Despite his immense reputation, Messi's time in MLS was unfortunately hampered by a leg injury sustained while on international duty with Argentina in September. As a result, he was only able to feature in six matches, accumulating a mere 372 minutes on the pitch.  

During this limited playing time, he managed to score one goal and provide two assists for Miami. Regrettably, Miami failed to secure a playoff spot, and Messi's contributions were unable to propel the team to postseason success. It's important to note that only MLS regular-season matches were taken into account for the voting process, with performances in the Leagues Cup tournament being rendered irrelevant.

It's undeniable that Messi's presence in MLS brought significant financial benefits. However, it was Giorgos Giakoumakis who truly stood out with his exceptional performances, ultimately earning him the well-deserved recognition from the voters.  

Giakoumakis fully comprehends the significance of this award and expressed his utmost gratitude upon receiving it. "I'm really happy and satisfied for winning this trophy," he said. "It has different gravity when you win and you're competing against Messi. So I think the gravity of this prize is even bigger right now."