In a moment that will echo through Major League Soccer history, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF lifted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy on December 6, 2025, defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 in the MLS Cup final at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This victory marks the club’s inaugural MLS championship in its sixth season, capping a remarkable two-and-a-half-year transformation sparked by Messi’s arrival in July 2023. For the 38-year-old Argentine icon, it’s his 48th career major trophy—adding to an already unparalleled legacy—and his third with Miami, following the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield.
Inter Miami, under manager Javier Mascherano (a former Barcelona teammate of Messi’s), entered as Eastern Conference champions after a dominant 5-1 semifinal win over New York City FC, where Tadeo Allende notched a hat trick.
Vancouver, led by German legend Thomas Müller, had advanced by edging San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western Conference final, bringing star power from both sides to what felt like a global showdown.
The game kicked off at 2:30 p.m. ET, and Inter Miami struck early. In the 8th minute, Messi initiated a fluid move on the right flank, linking with Rodrigo De Paul before crossing for Allende. The ball deflected off Vancouver defender Édier Ocampo into his own net, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
The Herons dominated possession in the first half (58% overall), but Vancouver equalized in the 60th minute through Canadian international Ali Ahmed, whose curling shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo to make it 1-1.
Momentum shifted decisively in the second half. In the 71st minute, Messi intercepted a pass from Vancouver’s Andrés Cubas in midfield, surged forward, and delivered a pinpoint through-ball to De Paul, who slotted home 1-v-1 with goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for a 2-1 lead—the defining goal of the match.
The play exemplified Messi’s vision and composure under pressure, drawing three defenders before unlocking the defense.
With Vancouver pushing for an equalizer amid 45 total fouls and a chippy atmosphere, Miami sealed the win in the 90+6th minute. Messi again turned creator, threading a low pass through a crowded box for Allende to tap in his second of the game (and record eighth of the playoffs), making it 3-1.
Inter Miami’s journey since Messi’s signing has been nothing short of revolutionary. Acquired from Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner joined a last-place team reeling from a winless start to the 2023 season.
His debut season delivered the Leagues Cup, MLS’s first international club title. In 2024, Miami claimed the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record but fell in the playoffs’ first round.
The 2025 campaign was a grueling 58-match odyssey across all competitions—the most ever for an MLS club in a calendar year.
The roster, a who’s-who of Messi’s past, was pivotal: Former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez provided midfield steel and experience, while fellow Argentines De Paul (from Atlético Madrid) and Allende added firepower.
Co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas, who lured Messi to MLS, watched emotionally as the trophy was lifted—Beckham calling it the fulfillment of a 20-year vision for American soccer.