Inter Miami head coach González: Messi deserves both the MVP award and the Ballon d'Or

Inter Miami head coach Cristian 'Kily' González says Lionel Messi's performances at 39 show he deserves "both the season's most valuable player (MVP) award and the Ballon d'Or".

The Argentine star found the net once again in last weekend's fixture, playing a decisive role as his side beat Eastern Conference rivals New England Revolution 2-1 away from home. The victory lifted Inter Miami to second place in the East, and they now prepare to host Charlotte FC on Decision Day, the final day of the regular season.

Messi is the league's top scorer with 26 goals in MLS this season, while his 15 assists underline his continued influence in attack.

Praising his star player, head coach González said: "I have no doubt that he is the best of all time. Nobody compares to him when it comes to the respect he has for his team-mates and the leadership he brings on the pitch. What Leo has achieved at this age shows, in my view, that he fully deserves both the MLS MVP award and the Ballon d'Or. I hope he wins them."

Messi's goal against New England also secured Miami's place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. González, who said he is pleased with the direction his team is taking, added: "We are part of a club that keeps growing and I have a group of players focused on the goal. It was a match we had to win, and we showed on the pitch what kind of team we want to be."

Opponents Charlotte FC, meanwhile, have secured a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and will face Chicago Fire in the first round of the play-offs. Following their 4-0 win over Orlando City in their last outing, Charlotte defender Henry Kessler highlighted Miami's strength and said his side would need to produce a flawless collective performance.

Key points

• Inter Miami are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches at Chase Stadium (4 wins, 4 draws).
• Charlotte FC have shown strong form, beating CF Montréal and Orlando City by four-goal margins in their last two league matches.
• Having kept clean sheets in the last two meetings between the sides, Charlotte are looking to continue their run on their trip to Miami.