Lionel Messi ends fairytale Inter Miami season with MLS Cup triumph

Tom Weber

• 6 Dec 2025 16:50 CST
• 3 min read

News

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have won MLS Cup after beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1.

The Herons hosted the Whitecaps at Chase Stadium in what was being billed as a dream final for Major League Soccer, as it pitted Messi against Thomas Muller, who has been a great addition for the league since joining in the summer.

The stage was set for an epic affair. Miami took the lead after just eight minutes when Eidir Ocampo deflected a cross into his own net, but the Whitecaps equalised in the 60th via Ali Ahmed, whose effort really should have been parried by Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.

However, it didn't take long for Eastern Conference winners to respond. Rodrigo de Paul restored the Herons' lead in the 71st, and Tadeo Allende sealed the deal in stoppage time after a lovely pass from Messi.

Miami's victory is a remarkable success, not because it wasn't expected - they are the biggest spenders in MLS, so they should be winning silverware - but because of the sheer number of interesting storylines.

Messi wins 14th championship, Allende breaks playoff record

For one, with this victory and his two assists, Messi confirmed that there is no other option but for him to become the first back-to-back MVP in MLS history. This triumph is the 14th league championship and 48th trophy of his illustrious career.

But the clash with the Whitecaps wasn't all about the 2022 World Cup winner. Allende's goal to put the bed game was historic as well because it was his ninth strike of the 2025 playoffs, which is a new league record. The 26-year-old has been unstoppable in recent games.

When Allende's shot hit the back of the net, teammate Jordi Alba broke down in tears and looked inconsolable. The left-back, who has been nothing short of sensational this year despite his advanced age, was overcome with emotion ahead of his and Sergio Busquets' retirement.

The victory was also vindication of Miami's decision to appoint Javier Mascherano as head coach. It looked a questionable choice at the time, and things were certainly dicey early in the season, but his tactical and personnel decisions in the playoffs were spot on.

Mascherano dropped the ageing Luis Suarez and instead used Allende and 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti to run the channels, allowing Messi to orchestrate attacks from deep, which worked to devastating effect.

Miami will now have plenty of work to do in the offseason. Alba and Busquets have to be adequately replaced, Suarez's future is uncertain and the likes of Allende and Silvetti will surely have attracted high-profile attention from bigger leagues.

The Herons will look quite different in 2026, and with the opening of their new stadium on the horizon and Messi tied down to a three-year contract, life at Inter Miami won't get boring anytime soon.

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