Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images

Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano & Inter Miami Receive Major Honors

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Jan 4, 2026 7:00 AM ET

Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi was chosen as the best player in Major League Soccer after being the most voted in the 40th edition of the traditional survey "America Responds to El Pais," which each season selects the continent's most outstanding figures.

Meanwhile, his compatriot and manager, Javier Mascherano, was chosen as the best coach in MLS, and Inter Miami as the best club.

On this occasion, around 264 journalists from 16 American countries voted in the survey by the Uruguayan outlet El Pais, which meant a record both in participation and in the number of nations.

From these, each country's journalists voted for the best player, best coach, and best team from each of their respective countries.

In Argentina, the most voted player was Racing midfielder Santiago Sosa, and the best coach was Eduardo Dominguez of Estudiantes de La Plata, while the best team was Racing.

Javier Mascherano, Head Coach of Inter Miami CF, talks to Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF during the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff match between Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC at Chase Stadium on October 24, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

Lionel Messi Also Suffered First Loss of 2026

That said, Messi received bad news on just the second day of 2026. The 2025 MLS Cup champion lost out on an award for Best South American Player of the recently ended year.

He finished in second place, trailing by 15% behind the winner. Flamengo superstar Giorgian De Arrascaeta won the award. Third place went to Adrian Martinez, with 12 votes (Messi had 39).

De Arrascaeta, 31, was key for Flamengo in 2025. The attacking midfielder played 64 matches, registering 25 goals and 20 assists. He competed in the Serie A, Copa do Brasil, Copa Libertadores, FIFA Club World Cup, and FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where he won the Challenger Cup and the Derby of the Americas.

Although he did not win the award, Messi also had a season with Inter Miami. They not only surprised friend and foe alike at the Club World Cup by advancing from the group stage, but they also won the Eastern Conference and secured the MLS Cup for the first time in their history.

Inter Miami is already working on what will be the 2026 season, in which it will no longer have big names like Jordi Alba or Sergio Busquets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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