Lionel Messi has completed an astonishing turnaround for Inter Miami, leading the club to its maiden MLS Cup triumph on Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Argentine superstar once again proved his monumental impact, contributing a crucial couple of assists in the final match.
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023 when the club was at the bottom of the league, Messi has steered them to four titles, transforming their fortunes almost overnight.
A Record-Breaking Postseason
Messi’s performance throughout the playoffs was historically dominant:
- Total Contributions: He concluded the postseason with an impressive 15 goal contributions—comprising six goals and nine assists.
- MLS Record: He registered at least one goal or assist in each of Miami’s six postseason games, setting a new MLS record for goal involvement in a single season.
Messi Reflects on the Victory
Following the emotional final, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner addressed the media, reflecting on the team’s massive achievement:
“Three years ago, I decided to come to MLS, and today we are MLS champions,” Messi told reporters. “This year, winning MLS was one of our main objectives. The team made a huge effort — it was a very long year, with many matches and we were up to the task all season. This is the moment I had been waiting for, and that we, as a team, were waiting for. It’s very beautiful for all of us. They deserved it.”
The final itself was high-octane, with Inter Miami proving highly effective by seizing key scoring chances to net three goals. Vancouver controlled possession but struggled to make an impact in front of the goal.
Beckham’s Praise and Celebration
Club co-owner and football icon David Beckham was effusive in his praise for the championship win, acknowledging both the opposition and Messi’s decisive role.
“All credit to Vancouver, they played a great game and put us under a lot of pressure. After their goal they were on top of us. When you give the ball to Leo (Messi), he creates chances. The team stuck together, and they’ve done that all year,” the former England captain said.
The celebrations were captured in a viral video, showing Beckham leading the ecstatic team in a conga line during the party. Messi, despite the joyous occasion, was noted by observers to appear slightly awkward during the viral moment.