The Argentine superstar capped his third Major League Soccer season with the 47th trophy of his career, guiding Inter Miami to a 3-1 win over Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final.
Messi said: “Three years ago I decided to come to MLS, and today we are MLS champions.”
“We reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football Champions Cup). Last year we went out early in the competition and were eliminated in the first round. This year, winning the MLS was one of our main objectives,” said Messi.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has credited the club’s MLS Cup victory to the determination of his teammates, saying the group rose to every challenge during a demanding campaign.
The team struck early, when Vancouver defender Edier Ocampo redirected Tadeo Allende’s attempt into his own goal in the eighth minute.
Despite the setback, the Whitecaps grew into the match and controlled long stretches of the first half under the leadership of experienced midfielder Thomas Müller.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 60th minute, when Ali Ahmed’s bouncing shot slid past Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo to level the score.
But the second half belonged to Messi. In the 71st minute he dispossessed Vancouver in midfield before setting up Rodrigo De Paul, who calmly beat Yohei Takaoka to restore Miami’s lead.
As the crowd chanted his name, Messi performed again in stoppage time, assisting Allende for Miami’s third goal and sparking celebrations throughout the stadium.
The victory marks Messi’s 44th senior title and his third with Inter Miami. The 38-year-old, named MLS Cup MVP, called the moment “beautiful” and praised Miami’s supporters for their continued support.
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For co-owner David Beckham, the triumph caps a 12-year journey, from launching the club to winning the league’s first championship.
“The team made a huge effort – it was a very long year, with many matches – and we were up to the task all season,” Messi said. “This is the moment I have been waiting for and what we have been waiting for as a team. It is very nice for all of us. They have earned it.”
Both Messi and Müller had secured their football legacies long before Saturday’s match. Each is a winner of the World Cup and the Champions League. And both are Club World Cup winners.
They arrived in MLS with a similar goal: to add a league title to their already stacked resumes. And even though they had little to prove in their careers, it was clear how important the opportunity to win the MLS Cup was for both veterans.
The victory marks Inter Miami’s crowning achievement since the club – which entered the competition as an expansion club in 2020 – successfully lured World Cup winner Messi to Miami in 2023.
Additionally, Lionel Messi received the Most Valuable Player MVP award after the MLS Cup final.
