Lionel Messi delivered two assists to inspire Inter Miami winning their first-ever MLS Cup title with a 3–1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium.
The Herons made a dream start in front of a jubilant Fort Lauderdale crowd, taking the lead in the 8th minute when Edier Ocampo inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to stop Tadeo Allende.
Vancouver responded strongly later in the first half, with Rocco Rios denying Emmanuel Sabbi from close range before Thomas Müller’s header grazed the roof of the net.
The Whitecaps eventually drew level on the hour mark through Ali Ahmed, whose scuffed effort slipped under Rios’ arm.
Sabbi nearly put Vancouver ahead shortly after, striking both posts in a dramatic sequence that saw his rebound also deflected onto the woodwork.
But Inter Miami wrestled back control in the 71st minute. Messi, as composed as ever, threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Rodrigo De Paul, who finished calmly across goal to restore the lead.
With Vancouver pushing bodies forward in search of an equaliser, Miami sealed the victory deep into stoppage time.
Messi controlled a lofted pass on his chest before flicking it into the path of Allende, who finished through goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka’s legs to complete the 3–1 triumph.
The win marks a historic milestone for Inter Miami, a club founded in 2018 and co-owned by former England captain David Beckham.
It is the realisation of a long-term vision Beckham had pursued since purchasing the franchise rights as part of his 2007 MLS deal with LA Galaxy.
“All the emotion came out in the final few moments,” Beckham said after the win. “We believed in Miami from day one. It says ‘freedom to dream’ on our shirts, and we promised our fans we would deliver.”
Messi’s arrival in 2023 transformed the club’s trajectory.
Alongside former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and later Luis Suárez, Miami quickly became one of MLS’s most formidable sides.
The Argentine legend helped deliver the League Cups in 2023, followed by the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference title in 2024.
This season, Miami finished third in the Eastern Conference before powering through the playoffs with dominant aggregate victories.
Messi recently committed to the club until 2028, though this final also marked the farewell appearances of Busquets and Alba.
Head coach Javier Mascherano, who earned his first managerial trophy, praised the departing veterans.
“They deserve to finish their careers this way,” Mascherano said. “They won everything elsewhere, but they came here and helped change the mentality at Inter Miami, alongside Lionel Messi. This goodbye is perfect for them.”
The triumph cements Miami’s status among MLS elites and hands their passionate supporters a moment they had long been waiting for.
