Lionel Messi Leads Inter Miami To Beat Vancouver To Win First MLS Cup

Lionel Messi finally helped Inter Miami win the club's inaugural MLS Cup (Instagram/@intermimatif).

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi praised the beautiful and emotional moments after his two assists confirmed Inter Miami's first MLS Cup (MLS Cup) title after beating Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Sunday, December 7, 2025, early morning WIB.

This victory complements dramatic changes for the club slumped at the bottom of the MLS standings when the eight-ballon d'Or winner arrived in Miami as the biggest signing in league history in July 2023.

It was Messi's 44th senior title, which was named the 2025 MLS Cup MVP. It was also his third title with Inter Miami, after helping the team win the League Cup (Leagues Cup) in 2023 and Supporters' Shield in 2024.

However, the MLS Cup is the biggest trophy so far for the club that started its career with David Beckham's support in 2020.

"A beautiful and emotional moment for us, for Miami residents, to be able to achieve a goal at MLS. This is a very new club, you could say."

"In the past, we were lucky enough to win the title, but this is the real goal, winning the MLS and being at the top of the American league, and fortunately we managed to achieve it."

"We were lucky to play at home, a great joy for everyone, so we had to enjoy it," Messi told ESPN.

At the packed Chase Stadium in South Florida, the home side took the lead thanks to Edier Ocampo's own goal from Vancouver in the eighth minute. Starting from Tadeo Allende's shot, the ball hit Ocampo and passed Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

Although Inter Miami immediately took the lead, some of the bad games where the ball often went away made Whitecaps gradually take over in the rest of the first half.

Bayern Munich captain and legend Thomas Muller is in full control and the visitors play proactively in the final third of the pitch before the first half is over.

After the break, Vancouver's relentless pressure grew. In the second half, head coach Jesper Sorensen pushed his team more aggressively, leading to Ali Ahmed's goal in the 60th minute to equalize to 1-1.

Initially seemed easy to save, Ahmed's shot bounced unexpectedly and managed to get past Inter Miami goalkeeper

The narrative about an underdog team daring to come into the city and steal the show seems to have already been established. However, the biggest star on the pitch, Messi, took over in the second half who cleverly stole the ball in the opponent's defense area in the 71st minute. Then, he provided a dangerous pass to De Paul who was running fast.

Just dealing with the goalkeeper to beat, Messi's compatriot easily fired his shot into the Vancouver goal to put the home side ahead 2-1.

Accompanied by the roar of support for Messi throughout Chase Stadium, the crowd seemed to know how the match would take place.

Vancouver, who wanted to at least take the game to extra time, continued to press at the last minute, but to no avail.

On the other hand, Messi, again, won. He added to the visitors' wounds by providing assists for Allende in the 96th minute to change the score to 3-1.

The goal sparked a festive celebration across Chase Stadium, especially from coach Javier Mascherano.

"I am very happy for him. I am very happy because of the season he played. For him, winning this trophy is very, very special and very important. He came here to win this trophy," said Mascherano.

It was Messi's 15th goal contribution in this year's playoffs, a record for one MLS playoffs, and was Allende's ninth goal in the playoffs.

The final whistle sounded after the last touch of Sergio Busquets' career. The midfielder joined his teammate and former Barcelona legend Jordi Alba, who also retired after the match.

It is also the culmination of Beckham's 12-year odyssey, part of Inter Miami's ownership group.

He retired as a player in 2013 and a contract at MLS stated that he could start a franchise at a price cut when his career ended.

Beckham chose Inter Miami and it took him years to finally make it happen. Only in January 2018, the franchise was officially born after he partnered with Miami entrepreneur Jorge Mas.

At that time, the team didn't even have a stadium plan yet. Now Inter Miami is the 16th franchise in league history for 30 years who won the MLS title.

This extends the MLS' winning streak, which has seen five different franchises win championships in the last five years and eight franchises claim titles in the last nine seasons - only Columbus won twice that range.

"It's been an incredible journey," Beckham said.

Meanwhile, 38-year-old Messi, the MLS 2024 MVP who appears to be winning the award again this season, remains unmatched in important moments with contracts allowing him to play for Inter Miami until the early 40s.

As next season begins, the team will play in a new stadium near Miami International Airport on target of winning the second straight title.

"He's here not just to enjoy living in Miami. His wife and children love Miami, but he came here to win, and that's the heart of Leo."

"He wants to win. He has dedication, loyalty that he shows to his teammates, to the city, to the club. Leo is a winner. That's as simple as it is," Beckham said.