Messi & Hlongwane snubbed for 2023 MLS Best XI!

Major League Soccer's best XI for 2023 has officially been announced, but despite Lionel Messi recently winning his eighth Ballon d'Or and Bongokuhle Hlongwane having impressed in the latest campaign, neither player made the team! 

The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner joined Inter Miami in July this year, and has since made six league appearances, scoring one goal and assisting two further strikes.

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In all competitions, however, the Argentine made 14 appearances in which he scored 11 goals while creating another five strikes.

He also helped his new team win its first-ever piece of silverware by leading them to Leagues Cup glory in what was a terrific start to life in the US.

Despite winning his eighth Ballon d'Or and what he was able to achieve at his new club, though, members of the media, MLS players and technical staff members deemed this to not be enough as they chose the league's Best XI for the 2023 campaign, a decision that has surprised many but perhaps should not have. 

They would have considered the fact that Inter Miami ended the season in lowly 14th place in the Eastern conference – second last – as well as Messi only being able to play six of his side's 34 matches throughout the league campaign. 

Hlongwane, meanwhile, also failed to be named in the side despite impressing in the US this season.

Having joining Minnesota United in January 2022, he had productive second campaign with the club, making 22 goal contributions in just 38 games across all competitions, with 11 of those coming in MLS action. 

Those who did make the cut, though, include Los Angeles FC striker Denis Bouanga, who looks set to win the Golden Boot after scoring 24 goals in 34 games, and Walker Zimmerman, who finds himself in the season's Best XI for the fifth consecutive time. 

Here is the full team

Goalkeeper: Roman Burki (St. Louis City SC)

Defenders: Matt Miazga (Cincinnati), Tim Parker (St. Louis City SC), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders: Luciano Acosta (Cincinnati), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United FC), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)

Forwards: Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Giorgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United FC), Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew)

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