MLS Roundup: Union secure Supporters' Shield, Messi hits landmark in Miami win

Tom Weber

• Updated: 6 Oct 2025 16:54 CDT
• 4 min read

News

The Philadelphia Union are the 2025 Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield winners, but they were not the only side to make history on Matchday 38.

The Union defeated New York City FC 1-0 to confirm their place at the summit of the MLS standings. Decision Day is coming up in less than two weeks, but no team can catch Philly after three consecutive wins following their shocking 7-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in mid-September.

It is the Union's second Shield in club history, and they are deserving winners. While they have not always looked convincing against the elite teams in MLS, they got the job done against the weaker teams on a more consistent basis than any other franchise in the league.

Eastern Conference: Messi hits landmark as Miami rout New England

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Lionel Messi became only the second player in MLS history to record 40+ regular-season goal contributions after Carlos Vela notched 49 for LAFC in 2019. Messi set up three of Inter's four goals in their 4-1 win over New England.

The Argentine legend has now combined for 41 goal contributions this season, made up of 24 goals and 17 assists. Miami still have to play Atlanta United before they travel to Nashville on Decision Day, so Messi has two games to equal or eclipse Vela's record.

He is among the favourites to be this season's MVP, which would make him the first player in MLS history to win the award back-to-back. Messi also currently leads LAFC's Denis Bouanga (due to the assists tiebreaker) and Nashville's Sam Surridge in the Golden Boot race.

Thanks to their 4-1 win, Miami pretty much guaranteed home-field advantage for their round one playoff fixture.

Meanwhile, Charlotte FC secured a 1-0 win over DC United to climb above NYCFC into fourth on the victory tie-breaker, while Nashville only mustered a 1-1 draw with CF Montreal after their midweek Open Cup triumph.

Western Conference: San Diego secure record points haul for an expansion team

Over in the West, San Diego became the first expansion side in MLS history to crack the 60-point mark, courtesy of their 4-2 win over the Houston Dynamo. They currently sit top of the Conference, but several teams can still snatch that spot away from them.

The Whitecaps are level on points with San Diego after beating San Jose 4-1, Minnesota United are two points behind after demolishing Sporting Kansas City and LAFC are four points off top spot but with two games in hand. The latter beat a hard-to-break-down Atalanta United 1-0.

Elsewhere, the Seattle Sounders beat the Portland Timbers 1-0 to win their first home regular-season game over their hated rivals since 2017. FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake both picked up crucial wins in their chase for the final two playoff spots.

The Colorado Rapids, who lost 1-0 to RSL, and San Jose can technically still get in, but both RSL and Dallas have a game in hand.

Matchday 38 - all results

Inter Miami 4-1 New England Revolution

Philadelphia Union 1-0 NYCFC

Orlando City 1-1 Columbus Crew

New York Red Bulls 0-1 FC Cincinnati

Chicago Fire 2-2 Toronto FC

Houston Dynamo 2-4 San Diego FC

Minnesota United 3-0 Sporting Kansas City

Austin FC 1-3 St. Louis City

Real Salt Lake 1-0 Colorado Rapids

Seattle Sounders 1-0 Portland Timbers

Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 San Jose Earthquakes

LAFC 1-0 Atlanta United

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