Betting Odds For Lionel Messi MLS Goal Count
One of the best to ever play soccer is coming stateside.
Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon D’Or winner—global soccer’s highest honor—will now play in Major League Soccer. Messi’s first MLS game will be around the end of July.
Will Messi have enough time to win the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award or the MLS Golden Boot award?
Messi’s MLS venture has sent U.S. oddsmakers and bettors into a frenzy, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to place bets on the newly crowned World Cup Champion as he graces their own backyard league.
Goals in Boatloads
Messi will have to catch up with the current top goalscorers in MLS quickly. Multiple players were leading the goal charts with 10 goals each—Denis Bouanga, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Hany Mukhtar and Jesus Ferreira.
It’s important to note that their international matches and participation in the Leagues Cup won’t contribute to their goal tally.
These leading goalscorers will have weeks more of MLS matches before Messi steps on the pitch, making Messi a long-shot bet with the MLS Golden Boot (top MLS goalscorer). The Argentine opened at +4000 betting odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The odds will likely shorten as Messi receives more support from transfer reinforcements. Therefore, now is the opportune moment for bettors to consider placing this bet if they are interested.
However, even at 40/1 odds, the price may be too short.
Messi the Magician
Inter Miami and Messi have a few tricks up their sleeves to ensure Messi gets on the scoresheet more frequently.
Messi will not represent the only reinforcements to come to last-placed Inter Miami this summer. Inter Miami is rumored to be in the market for some of Messi’s world-class, talented friends.
According to the rumor mill, Ángel Di María, Sergio Busquets, Neymar, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez have shown intentions of wanting to play with Messi before their careers are over. Messi has the pedigree and pull in the soccer world to bring talented players anywhere he decides to play.
With more talented offensive players at Inter Miami’s disposal, the Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers will have a ton of possession in the opponent’s final third, causing more chances for Messi to score and more chances for Inter Miami to get penalties.
Assuming Messi takes and scores penalties, that will allow him to make up ground on the leading goalscorers. Some players in the golden boot race share spotkick duties, such as Dennis Bouanaga and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Messi is one of the world’s best penalty-takers and will instantly become Inter Miami’s spotkick specialist, just as he did in the Qatar World Cup with Argentina. There, he scored four decisive penalties in high-pressure situations.
Messi’s offensive versatility will significantly aid him in finding the scoresheet, mainly due to the roster rules in MLS that can create defensive vulnerabilities.
In MLS, a team can only spend as much money as they want on a player transfer in three designated player slots. Most of the time, these three designated player slots are spent on offensive players, as offensive players are more marketable.
This causes some inconsistencies in the roster, particularly on the defense for MLS clubs. Many MLS rosters have younger, less experienced players to fill the defense.
Messi’s ability to play in multiple positions will pose a nightmare for inexperienced center-backs and left-backs transitioning from college soccer.
Furthermore, his adaptability allows him to exploit defensive weaknesses by lining up in any required position, leading to increased offensive opportunities and greater chances to score.
Messi will find his way on the scoresheet in Miami. Argentina scored fifteen goals in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and seven came from the captain himself.
An Inconvenience on the Beach
Some hurdles will arise in his first year at Inter Miami. MLS is a physical league, and many players will try to disrupt Messi in any way possible.
Messi is a highly creative player who flourishes when he’s not constantly fouled. Many MLS players will try to foul him before he gets too close to the goal.
However, the Argentine is one of the best free-kick takers in the world.
Travel in MLS is like no other league in the world, and this will be something new to Messi. The Argentinian has never had to travel across the United States midweek to play against a West Coast team on three days’ rest.
Although the odds may not currently favor him for the MLS Golden Boot, the potential reinforcements of talented players and the likelihood of Messi becoming Inter Miami’s penalty kick and free kick taker would significantly enhance his chances.
Last Five MLS Golden Boot Winners
- 2022: Hany Mukhtar (23 Goals)
- 2021: Valentín Castellanos (19 Goals)
- 2020: Diego Rossi (14 Goals)
- 2019: Carlos Vela (34 Goals)
- 2018: Josef Martinez (31 Goals)
Diego Rossi clinched the Golden Boot in 2020 by scoring an impressive 14 goals in 19 appearances. Given Messi’s status as the world’s best player, achieving such a feat should come naturally to him.
While Diego Rossi was a phenomenal MLS player, Messi is a different caliber of player.
Arguably one of the best soccer players of all time, Messi will look at Rossi’s blueprint and, with a bit of luck, look to climb the goal-scoring leaderboards to have a chance to win the Golden Boot award.
The MLS Landon Donovan MVP
The MLS MVP award has been claimed by exceptional players who have tasted success in their careers but managed to shine once again in MLS.
The MLS Golden Boot is often closely associated with the MLS Landon Donovan MVP award.
In the last five years, three players completed the double and took both coveted trophies home. Hany Mukhtar, Carlos Vela and Josef Martinez were the highly talented players to do this feat in MLS.
Last 5 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Winners
- 2022: Hany Mukhtar
- 2021: Carles Gil
- 2020: Alejandro Pozuelo
- 2019: Carlos Vela
- 2018: Josef Martinez
On the other hand, there have also been instances where prominent players overlooked the league, treating it as a vacation and missing out on the chance to win this prestigious accolade.
With less than half of the season remaining, Messi must make an immediate impact if he wants to have a shot at MVP and the Golden Boot. However, he will have a significant opportunity when he has to guide the lowest-ranked team and the fifth-worst offensive team in MLS to the pinnacle of the standings.
