Lionel Messi was named in the MLS Best XI(Image: Getty Images)

Lionel Messi recognized as Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets suffer brutal snub

The MLS Best XI for the 2024 season has been announced ahead of the MLS Cup final between LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls on Saturday, but there are two glaring omissions

by · The Mirror

The 2024 MLS Best XI team was announced by the Major League Soccer, but it left out two big names from Inter Miami - Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets. The announcement came ahead of the MLS Cup final between LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.

The selection, which has caused quite a stir, was made by media members, league players and club technical staffs. The team features seven first-time honourees from eight different countries and nine different MLS clubs.

One of the top clubs is Supporters' Shield winners Inter Miami, who finished eight points clear of Columbus Crew. Despite this, there was no place for Suarez or Busquets in the team after their MLS Cup bid came to an end with a shock defeat to Atlanta United in the playoffs.

Instead, the forward spots went to the league's top scorer - former Liverpool and current D. C. United striker Christian Benteke, LAFC's Denis Bouanga, and Columbus' Cucho Hernandez.

Messi was joined by a trio of players in an unusual 3-3-4 formation, seemingly designed to accommodate a number of strikers and appease fans hoping their club's icon would make the cut. The midfield is heavily attack-oriented, indicating that goals and assists are key factors for the decision makers.

Replacing Busquets in midfield are FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta, Portland Timbers' Evander and LA Galaxy's Riqui Puig. Acosta earned his third consecutive Best XI selection after a career-best 33 goal contributions, including a league-topping 19 assists.

Evander, who also provided 19 assists, trailed only Messi in total goal contributions (36) with 34. Former Barcelona star Puig, meanwhile, achieved a career-high 15 assists this season, helping Galaxy reach the MLS final, although he will miss the match due to an ACL injury sustained during the Western Conference final.

Luis Suarez has not been named despite scoring 20 goals( Image: Getty Images)

In defence, Alba is joined by MLS Defender of the Year Steven Moreira, a key part of a Columbus backline that conceded a club-record low of 40 goals during the regular season, and Seattle Sounders' centre-back Yeimar Gomez Andrade, whose team allowed a league-low 35 goals.

The team's goalkeeper, who was also the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Kristijan Kahlina, had a career-best 12 clean sheets and was the last line of defence for Charlotte, who conceded the second-fewest goals in the league. The reason why more Miami players didn't make the team is simple - they failed to make a significant impact in the MLS Cup.

Sergio Busquets was also omitted from the team( Image: Getty Images)
LA Galaxy star Riqui Puig was named but will miss the MLS Cup final

Miami were taken aback by Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs, losing the decisive game 3-2 at home. Meanwhile, the defence only managed six clean sheets all season, with Alba securing his spot in the team largely due to the four goals and 10 assists he contributed from left-back.

However, despite potentially becoming MLS champions for the first time in their history after finishing 7th in the Eastern Conference, no Red Bulls players were named in the team.

MLS Best XI

Goalkeeper: Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte FC)

Defenders: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Seattle Sounders FC), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew)

Midfielders: Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Evander (Portland Timbers), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)

Forwards: Christian Benteke (D.C. United), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF).