Argentina’s Lionel Messi named Time magazine's athlete of the year
Messi joined Miami in July and scored 11 goals in 14 games in all competitions to help them lift the Leagues Cup, their first ever trophy.
The 36-year-old also won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time in October.
"Lionel Messi this year managed to do what once seemed impossible, when he signed with Inter Miami: turning the US into a soccer country," read Time.
The magazine said Messi's arrival had driven a surge in attendances, ticket prices, merchandise sales and viewership of MLS games.
The striker joins the likes of gymnast Simone Biles, swimmer Michael Phelps and NBA superstar LeBron James in winning the award.
After leaving Paris St-Germain at the end of his contract Messi said his preference was an emotional return to boyhood club Barcelona, but that move never materialised.
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