Messi delivers the MLS crown, Miami beat Vancouver 3–1 to lift their first league title

Inter Miami are finally MLS champions. The club claimed their first MLS Cup on Saturday night, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3–1 at Chase Stadium, a final that was tight until Lionel Messi decided it wouldn’t be. Two late goals, two Messi assists, and that was that.

Rodrigo De Paul and Tadeo Allende struck in the closing stages, both finishing moves started by Messi. Vancouver, driven relentlessly by Thomas Mueller, had the better stretches of possession and chances, but the scoreboard told a simpler story: Miami’s star understood the moment, and he bent it.

“This was one of our main goals,” said Messi, named MVP. “Last year we finished first in the league and unfortunately we were knocked out in the first round. The MLS was the ultimate prize. The team put in a tremendous effort and rose to the occasion.”

Miami opened early, eighth minute, when Messi sent Allende through and the winger’s low cross bounced off defender Edier Ocampo into his own net. The Whitecaps kept belief, and eventually equalised on the hour through Ali Ahmed, whose low shot slipped under Rios Novo and trickled across the line.

But the match flipped again on the 71st minute mistake: one loose Vancouver touch, Messi pounced, squared for De Paul, and the Argentine finished calmly past Yohei Takaoka. Deep in stoppage time, Messi found Allende again, sealing the title and triggering the emotional farewell of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, both in tears in their final match.

“I’m happy for them… finishing their careers this way is very nice for everyone,” Messi said. “They are two friends whom I love very much, and I am happy that they can leave with this title.”

Club co-owner David Beckham soaked it in:

“All credit to Vancouver, they played a great game and put us under a lot of pressure… When you give the ball to Leo (Messi), he creates chances. The team stuck together, and they’ve done that all year.”

There were sleepless nights, he admitted, building a club that promised stars and silverware. Now they have the trophy to prove it.