Despite a successful debut season with Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has been left off the 2023 Major League Soccer squad of the season.

Messi joined the David Beckham-owned club in July and helped turn around the fortunes of a club that was at the bottom of their conference.

The Argentina star gave American football new life, with superstars such as Tom Brady, LeBron James, and Serena Williams flocking to the DRV PNK stadium to watch the former Barcelona player.

Messi led the Herons to the inaugural Leagues Cup victory under Tata Martino, but an unforeseen injury while on international duty forced him to miss a couple of league games and the US Open Cup final.

As Inter Miami failed to make the Major League Soccer playoffs, the Argetine World Cup winner appeared in only six league games.

Major League Soccer team of the season

As a result, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been left out of the season’s team, with the team led by the year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Luciano Acosta of Cincinnati.

Acosta was joined in the center of the pack by Messi’s fellow World Cup winner, Thiago Almada of Atlanta, Nashville’s Henry Mukhtar, and former Atletico Madrid star, Hector Herrera.

Roman Burki, a former Borussia Dortmund goalie, is the season’s goalkeeper, with Matt Miazga, Tim Parker, and Walker Zimmerman providing defensive cover.

The attackers of the squad published on the Major League Soccer website are top scorer Denis Bouanga, newcomer of the year Giorgos Giakoumakis, and Cucho Hernandez.

Messi is expected to be out of play until at least February of next year, when preseason friendlies resume.