LIONEL MESSI has missed out on two MLS Player of the Month awards days before he is due to lead Inter Miami’s playoff charge.

Messi, 39, has bagged 26 goals and added 14 assists this season, including seven goal contributions since the start of October.

However, with Inter’s playoff first round clash against Columbus Crew due to start this Saturday, it was announced the Argentina legend had not won prestigious awards to celebrate that form.

Instead, the awards were won by a former team-mate and rival of his in Spain, Antoine Griezmann.

The Frenchman, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona and against him while the talisman of Atletico Madrid, joined rival MLS outfit Orlando City over the summer.

And after a slow August and first half of September as he adjusted to his new surroundings, the 35-year-old has been in electric form.

Then across October and November he started seven games for Orlando and was joint-top for goal contributions (10) and goals (six) in the league.

Only Messi and Luis Suarez joined Griezmann with at least four goals and four assists in the period.

Thanks to his quick start, the former World Cup winner also became the second-quickest player to reach 20 goal contributions in MLS history – second only to Messi.

Griezmann is also only the third Orlando player to win the player of the month award after Joe Bendik in April 2017 and Daryl Dike in August 2020, while he is the first Frenchman to win the award since Thierry Henry in March 2012.

Orlando have made it into the playoffs via a wildcard entry.

They are taking on Cincinnati in that Eastern Conference matchup.

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