Lionel Messi was nominated for 2024 MLS MVP on Monday. He barely played half of the season, but he should win the award.

Messi has played in 18 of 33 games (54.5%) for first-place Inter Miami this season, mostly because of a right ankle injury. His stats make him the league's MVP.

Only four players have scored more than Messi's 17 goals and two have more than his 15 assists. The players ahead of him played at least eight to 13 more games than Messi this season.

Messi would win the Most Efficient Player award easily. The only reason Messi shouldn't win MVP is because other players played more games.

A headline saying Messi won the MLS MVP despite playing half the season is misleading. But let's be clear: The best player in the world has been the best in MLS this season.

It's ridiculous to think the MLS MVP should go to someone else.

Some say Inter Miami did well without Messi. While Inter Miami deserves credit for building a strong roster and keeping the club competitive when Messi was out, Messi's presence has made the club more well-known. Inter Miami improved from 27th to first in the league in Messi's first full MLS season.

Messi scored two goals against Columbus Crew to help Inter Miami win the MLS Supporters' Shield and the No. 1 seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

If Inter Miami wins the Oct. 19 season finale against New England Revolution, it will set the points record at 74 and be remembered as the best regular-season club in MLS history.

Messi has scored more goals than three of the last four MVPs. If Messi scores two more in the season finale, he'll tie with 2022 MVP Hany Mukhtar.

Who else could win MVP? Crew star Cucho Hernandez could win. He has 32 contributions like Messi (19 goals and 13 assists), but also missed a penalty kick against Inter Miami last week. He was outplayed by Messi in the biggest MLS game.

Denis Bouanga has 30 goal contributions for LAFC, which isn't even the best team in its own city or conference.

Christian Benteke has been valuable for DC United, with 23 goals, but his club is in eighth place.Messi has the second-most goals.

Lucho Acosta has 33 goals in 31 games for Cincinnati, and Evander has 33 in 27 games for Portland. Acosta won MVP with 31 goals last season.

Luis Suarez, Messi's friend and teammate at Inter Miami, also deserves consideration. He leads the club with 18 goals, but seven came in four games without Messi.

Kudos to Hernandez, Bouanga, Benteke, Evander and Acosta. But Messi’s efficiency has been undeniable, and so should his bid for MVP.