Lionel Messi is Ballon d’Or winner but was beaten by ex-Celtic for prestigious MLS award

Lionel Messi has lit up America since joining Inter Miami and has received plenty of adoration, but he has been beaten for the award by the former Celtic forward.

He has one goal and two assists in six MLS games, but overall he has 11 goals and five assists for Beckham’s side.

But it wasn’t enough for the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner to claim the MLS Rookie of the Year award, which went to Giorgos Giakoumakis.

In February of this year, Jakumakis joined Atlanta United from Glasgow. He played 27 games for the team and scored 17 goals.

He was a blockbuster signing for Atlanta United and won an award chosen by the media, players and coaches.

Perhaps controversially, Messi entered the top three, but he only played six games and played 372 minutes.

Regardless, Giakoumakis’s goal-scoring exploits are unlikely to surprise too many basketball supporters.

The Greece international scored 26 goals in 57 games for Celtic and continued his career in the United States.

Meanwhile, Messi is unlikely to cry himself to sleep after winning his eighth Ballon d’Or earlier this week.