Lionel Messi the key in Inter Miami’s MLS Cup victory
It’s hard to imagine that before Lionel Messi, Inter Miami were statistically the worst team in MLS, because since the diminutive Argentinian has arrived, they have looked nothing like their former selves.
Seasoned watchers of the league are even going as far as to suggest that the current Inter side could be the best team in MLS’s entire history, though such statements are premature at this stage.
Whitecaps in the way of another Messi trophy
Thomas Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps stood in the way of another trophy win for Messi and his colleagues, with both clubs battling it out in their first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup final.
The Canadian outfit certainly weren’t going to be overawed, even if Inter managed an astonishing 17 goals in their five playoff matches en route to the showpiece.
That’s because Vancouver had the edge in the head-to-head record and had also scored in 17 consecutive games before the final. 75 goals scored in the regular season too was actually only bettered by Miami’s astonishing 98.
Was the final going to be a case of the unstoppable force – Inter had won eight out of the last nine home league matches in 2025 – against the immovable object? Whitecaps were in the top three teams for the lowest amount of losses in the league.
Miami edge in front
The opening exchanges were fairly even, with Tadeo Allende going close. Inter’s No.21 then found himself in acres of space after being played onside by Edier Ocampo, who turned Allende’s cross into his own net.
Ominously for the Whitecaps, when Inter had scored first, they’d avoided defeat in the last 23 matches in MLS, since a 3-2 loss to Atlanta United on 10th November 2024.
The hosts were happy to cede possession, keeping their defence solid and preferring to play on the break and take advantage of the Whitecaps’ high line.
Ian Fray had already attempted and won both of his tackles, as well as winning four of his five one-on-one duels in the opening quarter hour, evidencing how hard Miami’s players were working right across the pitch.
Messi’s influence begins to grow
Muller and Brian White were finding it difficult to get into the game with the latter’s first touch in the box, a glancing header, not troubling Rocco Rios Novo.
Messi’s first opportunity wouldn’t arrive until the 25th minute, though his direct free-kick was weak and easily gathered by Yohei Takaoka.
The Argentinian’s influence began to grow, however, with only Noah Allen able to match his 100% pass completion as the game approached the 30-minute mark.
Another shot – Messi’s 174th of the season (no MLS player has more) – was blocked, as the hosts continued on the front foot; however, the Whitecaps were beginning to dominate the midfield areas.
Berhalter drives the Whitecaps forward
Sebastian Berhalter was particularly industrious, winning the ball back for his team on four separate occasions before the break.
It was from his free-kick that they should’ve equalised from, and they would’ve done were it not for an incredible point-blank save from Rios Novo as Emmanuel Sabbi pulled the trigger.
As the game approached half-time, Muller powered a header from the penalty spot that Rios Novo plucked out of the air, with the Whitecaps making the most of their 75% possession with their third effort on target in quick succession.
With Inter unable to get out of their own half for long periods, the pendulum had definitely swung in favour of the visitors as the whistle went for the break.
Back on level terms
Allende only attempted four passes in the half, whilst Inter’s Mateo Silvetti completed four; the Whitecaps’ backline did a great job of limiting any attacking intent from the hosts.
The second half started as the first had ended, with Inter unable to settle and giving away silly fouls. A 12th – higher than their season average of 11.7 in MLS – earned the Whitecaps a free-kick, but Berhalter wasted the chance.
Still the visitors remained on the attack, and it was no more than they deserved when Ali Ahmed equalised on the hour.
Miami were carved open again directly afterwards, with Sabbi’s shot hitting the base of both posts before bouncing to safety.
De Paul fires Miami back into the lead
With 20 minutes left to play, Vancouver had played almost double the passes of their hosts, and had 20 touches in the Miami box compared to just eight from the hosts.
Despite such domination, the hosts lost possession outside of their own area, and in the blink of an eye, Messi picked out Rodrigo De Paul to fire home just his second-ever goal for the Flamingos.
It represented a 100th goal for the club during both the regular and post-season, a feat that had never been managed before in MLS history. Messi’s eighth assist in the playoffs (22nd of the season) was also a record.
The goal galvanised Miami, with Messi, Balthazar Rodriguez and Maximiliano Falcon all winning possession back on five separate occasions.
Whitecaps go for broke
The Whitecaps appeared to abandon their game plan as they went for broke in the final 15 minutes.
Berhalter, again, ensured that Inter couldn’t settle, as he continued to evade challenge after challenge and find the ball to pick out a teammate.
A flurry of late free-kicks for either side disrupted the flow of the game, which, if anything, suited the hosts.
Every player bar Takaoka spent the last few minutes camped in the Miami half, as Vancouver gave everything for an equaliser.
47 titles for Messi
A few ‘Hail Mary’ long passes from the visitors weren’t a surprise, but with one last push, they were undone thanks to Jordi Alba’s crossfield ball to Messi, who then played in Allende to slide in the third goal and seal the win.
It gave the striker the outright playoff record of nine goals in an MLS postseason and was the fourth game in a row he’d netted – his best run of the season.
The final touch of the match, perhaps poetically, was also Sergio Busquets’ final touch of his career, and it brought Messi an incredible 47th trophy of his professional career, and both Busquets and Alba a dream ending to theirs.
