Messi Shines as Inter Miami Overcome Vancouver to Claim First MLS Title

Lionel Messi delivered a masterful performance as Inter Miami captured their maiden MLS Cup title with a 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday. The Argentine icon orchestrated the triumph at Chase Stadium, registering two assists and helping create a third, igniting jubilant celebrations before an electrified home crowd.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for — and the one the whole team has been waiting for,” said Messi, who was named MLS Cup Most Valuable Player.

Inter Miami struck early following an Edier Ocampo own goal, but the advantage was wiped out in the second half when Ali Ahmed levelled for Vancouver.

Messi, however, took control of the match once more. The 37-year-old threaded a superb assist for compatriot Rodrigo De Paul to restore Miami’s lead, before setting up Tadeo Allende deep into added time to seal a historic victory.

The club’s first MLS crown represented a landmark achievement for co-owner David Beckham, who has long envisioned establishing a successful footballing dynasty in Miami.

“There were many sleepless nights, but I never stopped believing,” Beckham said. “We promised our fans success and the very best players — and today we’ve delivered.”

Vancouver’s Missed Chances Prove Costly

Led by German veteran Thomas Müller, Vancouver had appeared the more likely winners after overcoming Ocampo’s eighth-minute mishap to equalise through Ahmed on the hour mark.

Just two minutes later, the Whitecaps nearly completed the turnaround when Emmanuel Sabbi struck both posts with a fierce effort, only for Miami to narrowly escape.

Their failure to convert proved decisive. As Vancouver pressed, midfielder Andrés Cubas was dispossessed after hesitating on the ball — a costly lapse seized upon by Messi, who surged forward before supplying De Paul with a precise pass for Miami’s second.

The Canadian side never recovered from the setback, and Miami capped the occasion in stoppage time when Messi’s clever through-ball enabled Allende to fire home the third.

Whitecaps manager Jesper Sørensen expressed frustration after the match.
“We made a few mistakes and they punished us,” he admitted. “The ball fell to Messi and he found Rodrigo — matches are decided in moments, and Miami have the players to exploit them.”

A Historic Night and an Emotional Farewell

Saturday’s triumph marked the pinnacle of Inter Miami’s rapid evolution since joining MLS as an expansion club in 2020, strengthened significantly by Messi’s arrival in 2023.

The evening also carried added emotional weight, serving as a farewell for two of Messi’s former Barcelona teammates — Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — both of whom are retiring from professional football.

“One of our biggest goals was to give two great friends the perfect send-off,” Messi said of the departing Spaniards. “It was a special night for them and for all of us. We’re saying goodbye in the best possible way to two of football’s all-time greats.”