Messi played his first match for Miami in MLS on 26 August, scoring one of the goals in a 2–0 win against New York Red Bull.
But a late-season leg injury meant Messi was unable to help lift Miami off the bottom of the table and the team once again missed out on making the playoffs.
The Rookie of the Year award can be awarded to professional players who made their debut during the season. This year’s nominees are, in addition to Messi, Atlanta’s Greek forward Giorgos Giakoumakis and St Louis City’s German midfielder Eduard Lowen.
Messi was also nominated for the Most Valuable Player award but failed to become one of the three finalists in that category.
The three finalists for that award are Los Angeles’ Denis Bouanga, FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta and Atlanta’s Thiago Almada.