Lionel Messi, Inter Miami defeat Vancouver to win first MLS Cup title

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The Argentinian ace prima capped disconnected his 3rd Major League Soccer play with the 47th trophy of his career.

Published On 7 Dec 2025

Inter Miami secured their archetypal Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup crown connected Saturday, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 astatine Chase Stadium arsenic Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende struck precocious from a brace of Lionel Messi assists.

Despite Thomas Mueller driving a Vancouver broadside that controlled agelong stretches and created the amended chances, the last yet swung connected the Argentinian’s influence, arsenic helium secured his archetypal MLS league rubric and capped his finest play connected United States soil.

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“This was 1 of our main goals,” Messi, who was named MVP, said.

“Last twelvemonth we finished archetypal successful the league and unluckily we were knocked retired successful the archetypal round. The MLS was the eventual prize. The squad enactment successful a tremendous effort and roseate to the occasion,” the 38-year-old added.

Miami opened the scoring successful the eighth infinitesimal erstwhile Messi slipped Allende into abstraction and the winger’s debased transverse deflected disconnected Vancouver defender Edier Ocampo and into his ain net.

Vancouver kept power of the shot aft the interruption and yet made it number connected the hr people erstwhile Ali Ahmed drove into the container and fired a debased changeable that Rios Novo reached but could not support out, the shot rolling implicit the enactment to bring the visitors level.

Miami restored their pb successful the 71st infinitesimal erstwhile Messi pounced connected a escaped Vancouver interaction and slid the shot crossed the container for Rodrigo De Paul, who swept his decorativeness past Yohei Takaoka to headdress the determination with trademark composure.

The hosts sealed the rubric heavy into stoppage clip erstwhile Messi threaded a walk to Allende, prompting affectional scenes with Jordi Alba successful tears arsenic helium and Sergio Busquets – longtime friends and erstwhile Barcelona teammates – closed retired their last match.

“I’m blessed for them. Finishing their careers this mode is precise bully for everyone,” Messi said of his teammates.

“Something precise beauteous is coming to an extremity for them, thing to which they person devoted their full lives. I privation them each the best. They are 2 friends whom I emotion precise much, and I americium blessed that they tin permission with this title.”

Lionel Messi and Thomas Mueller successful action.

Joy for Beckham

David Beckham, the club’s co-owner and longtime designer of Miami’s project, joined the on-field celebrations aft the last whistle.

“All recognition to Vancouver, they played a large crippled and enactment america nether a batch of pressure. After their extremity they were connected apical of us,” the erstwhile England skipper said.

“When you springiness the shot to Leo (Messi), helium creates chances. The squad stuck together, and they’ve done that each year.”

He added that the way to the rubric had been thing but smooth: “There were a batch of sleepless nights. I ever believed successful Miami and successful bringing a squad here… We promised our fans we’d bring the champion players and bring success. Next twelvemonth is simply a caller twelvemonth and we spell again – but tonight, we celebrate.”