MLS has named the first award recipient of 2023. Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis was named the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year last Thursday. Giorgos beat out Inter Miami star, Lionel Messi, and St Louis City SC midfielder, Eduard Lowen.

This season the Greece international Giakoumakis, 28, scored 17 goals and tallied 3 assists in 27 games, including 21 starts.

Giakoumakis earned 45.8% of the votes cast by players, club technical staff, and media, while Messi only grabbed 27.3% and Lowen 15.4%. With this award, Giakoumakis becomes the third Atlanta United player to win the award and the second straight, joining Thiago Almada (2022) and Miguel Almiron (2017).

The award is given to the most impactful player with prior professional experience who debuted his MLS in 2023. Giakoumakis was signed by Scottish side Celtic in February for just over $4 million. He was poised to replace club legend Josef Martinez, who made the switch to Inter Miami, and he was able to go over and beyond.

Messi, who joined Miami in July, during the summer transfer window, was nominated for the award, despite being able to play six league games before getting injured during international duty. He was only able to play 372 minutes this season, grabbing one goal and providing two assists as Miami missed out on a spot in the MLS playoffs.

Eduard Lowen played over 2,300 minutes in 29 games. He was able to score six goals and grab 9 assists, as he led St Louis SC to a remarkable 1st place finish in the Western Conference, helping St Louis get a spot in the playoffs while finishing top 5 in the supporter shield standings. 

Atlanta United is currently still in the playoffs, down 1-0 in a best-of-three series against Columbus Crew, with the second game being held next Tuesday in Atlanta. The game will be at 7:00 pm and can be watched on Apple TV.