Football: Inter Miami's Lionel Messi among three finalists for Major League Soccer newcomer award

LionelMessiwas among three finalistsnamedon Thursday for Major League Soccer'sNewcomerof theYearaward despite the Argentine star playing only six league matches for InterMiami. The 36-year-old striker, who inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, poweredMiamito the Leagues Cup title in a tournament withMLSand Mexican league sides in August.

Messionly played his firstMLSmatch forMiamion August 26 as a second-half substitute and scored a goal in Inter's 2-0 win at New York Red Bulls to snap an 11-match winless streak. But nagged by a late-season leg injury,Messiwas unable to liftMiamifrom the league cellar into theMLSplayoffs.

Since signing with InterMiamiin July,Messihas been a money spinner forMLSfrom jersey sales and his role in boosting sales ofMLSseason pass viewing subscriptions as well as ticket sales whereverMiamiplayed.

Messi's rivals for thenewcomeraward, defined as anyone with pro experience who made anMLSdebut thisyear, are Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis of Atlanta United and German midfielder Eduard Lowen of St. Louis City.

Messihad also been among the players nominated for theMLSMost Valuable Player award but was not among the three finalists in that category.

That trio includedMLSGolden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, a French-born Gabon international for Los Angeles FC, Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta of regular-season wins leader FC Cincinnati and another Argentine standout, Atlanta's Thiago Almada.

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