Messi Leads Inter Miami to First MLS Cup Victory

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi’s status in the world of soccer was already legendary before he joined Inter Miami and entered Major League Soccer.

Having clinched the World Cup and achieved countless accolades, he didn’t really need an MLS Cup to solidify his greatness.

And yet, he wanted it. So, he set out to earn it.

In the MLS Cup final on Saturday, Messi and Inter Miami overcame the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1, marking the franchise’s inaugural championship. This victory came two and a half years after Messi’s unexpected arrival in South Florida, which caught many people off guard.

During the game, Messi assisted on the title-winning goal in the 72nd minute, delivering a perfectly threaded pass to Rodrigo de Paul after intercepting the ball. De Paul, seizing the moment, shot it into the far corner of the net. Almost immediately, Messi leaped into de Paul’s arms, grinning widely.

As the final minutes ticked away, the stands were filled with Inter Miami fans in pink, most proudly sporting Messi’s No. 10 shirt. They erupted, cheering and stomping in delight.

Even with a rich history of titles in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and NHL, South Florida has now embraced soccer. Messi played a pivotal role in that transformation. Tadeo Allende capped off the night by adding a third goal in the 6th minute of stoppage time, again with an assist from Messi, effectively sealing the 3-1 victory.

With this win, Inter Miami became the 16th franchise to lift the MLS trophy in the league’s three-decade history. This season underscores a trend in MLS, highlighting a record-tying five different teams winning the title over the last five years, and a notable eight franchises claiming victory in the past nine seasons—Columbus being the sole exception with two titles during that timeframe.