Giorgos Giakoumakis of Atlanta United has been chosen the 2023 MLS Rookie of the Year, defeating Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi.

Giorgos Giakoumakis has 17 goals and 3 assists this season in 27 games (21 starts). The Greek international received 45.8% of the votes cast by players, club technical staff, and the media, beating out Lionel Messi (27.3%) and St. Louis City SC’s Eduard Lowen (15.4%).

Giorgos Giakoumakis of Atlanta United has been selected the 2023 MLS Rookie of the Year.

Giakoumakis signed for Atlanta from Scotland’s Celtic in February 2023. He is the second Atlanta player to win the honor in a row and the third overall, joining Thiago Almada (2022) and Miguel Almirón (2017).

Messi failed in the MLS best rookie category

Messi signed with Inter Miami in July. In 14 games, he scored 11 goals. However, an injury forced Messi to miss the majority of the trip to win the MLS play-off round. He only played 372 minutes in six outings (four starts), scoring one goal and assisting on two others. Inter Miami lost steam and missed out on a spot in the MLS play-off round due to Messi’s absence. This is also why the 36-year-old superstar was unable to win the 2023 MLS Rookie of the Year honor.

On October 30, Messi was awarded the 2023 Golden Ball, an award chosen by 100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries. This is Messi’s eighth Golden Ball triumph in his amazing career.