'I flopped at Liverpool but just beat Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to prestigious award'

Former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke has beaten out Inter Miami duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to claim the MLS golden boot for the 2024 season .

The Belgian striker, now of DC United, netted an impressive 23 goals in 30 games for the Eastern Conference side, who agonisingly missed out on making the MLS Cup playoffs on goal difference. Benteke's side finished level on points with Atlanta United on 40, but had a vastly worse goal difference.

Atlanta finished with a goal difference of -3, whilst DC United finished with a goal difference of -18. However, Benteke's feat of winning the golden boot is an impressive one given given Inter Miami boast two of the most prolific goal scorers of all time in Messi and another ex-Liverpool star Suarez.

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Both Messi and Suarez finished on 20 goals each. However, whilst Suarez scored his 20 in 27 games, registering nine assists, Messi scored his in just 19 games - only starting 15 of them. The legendary Argentine also registered 16 assists, meaning he made 36 goal contributions in 19 MLS games this term.

And while Benteke can take some solace in the fact that he finished top of the goal scorer standings, it will be Messi and Suarez who will be looking to secure MLS Cup glory after they finished top of the Eastern Conference this season, winning the Supporters' Shield in the process.

Due to finishing top of the Eastern Conference standings, Inter Miami will face off against one of CF Montreal, or Atlanta. Had DC United have made the post-season MLS Cup, they would have been one game off taking on Messi and Suarez.

Instead, Benteke will be watching the action from his home. The former Belgian international striker, now 33, moved over to the US in 2022 to join DC United after leaving Crystal Palace, whom he joined from Liverpool. Back in 2015, the Reds forked out $42.2million (£32.5m) on Benteke to bring him to Anfield from Aston Villa.

However, Benteke never really hit the heights he did at Villa Park, spending just one season at Anfield signing for Palace. He scored just 10 goals in 42 games for the Reds, the best of which was an overhead kick screamer against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Liverpool.com says: " You have to think Benteke would probably rather trade in a couple of those goals this season for a better defence, which would have seen DC United make the MLS Cup playoffs. That said though, imagine being able to say you finished a domestic league season where you scored more goals than Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez!"