Inter Miami CF Claims First MLS Cup Behind Messi’s MVP Performance
Inter Miami CF’s journey from expansion hopeful to league powerhouse reached its peak on Saturday, December 6, 2025, when the club lifted its first-ever MLS Cup with a 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium. Powered once again by Lionel Messi, the win delivered the most coveted domestic trophy to a team transformed since the Argentinian superstar’s arrival in 2023.
The match followed a familiar script: Vancouver controlled long stretches, but Miami delivered the game’s decisive moments. An early attacking move from Inter Miami forced an own goal to open the scoring before Vancouver’s Ali Ahmed equalized around the hour mark to inject tension into the final. From there, Messi took control. The 38-year-old captain set up Rodrigo De Paul in the 71st minute to restore Miami’s lead, then provided another assist in stoppage time for Tadeo Allende to seal the 3–1 result.
Messi’s performance earned him MLS Cup MVP honors and capped a record-breaking postseason run. Across the 2025 playoffs, he recorded 15 goal contributions—six goals and nine assists—the most in a single MLS postseason. It was the latest chapter in a season in which he also claimed the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award for a second consecutive year, becoming the first player in league history to win the honor back-to-back.
For Inter Miami, the title represents more than just a strong season; it completes a three-year climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the summit of Major League Soccer. Since debuting in 2020, the club has added a series of major pieces around Messi, including Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul, steadily reshaping the roster and the club’s ambitions.
The MLS Cup now joins the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield in the Herons’ growing trophy cabinet, confirming the project envisioned by co-owner David Beckham and the club’s front office. Beckham praised Vancouver’s spirited performance after the match but emphasized what the win meant for Miami’s long-term plan, highlighting the perseverance required to turn a once-struggling expansion side into league champions.
The night in Fort Lauderdale also carried a sense of farewell. Veteran stars Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, both long-time teammates of Messi from their FC Barcelona days, are expected to retire following the season. The pair leave having helped deliver every major trophy of the Messi era in Miami, culminating in the MLS Cup triumph.
For supporters, the championship feels like the culmination of “The Messi Effect” on North American soccer. Since his arrival, Inter Miami’s profile, valuation, and global visibility have skyrocketed, while ticket demand, merchandise sales, and television interest have reshaped expectations for what MLS clubs can achieve on and off the pitch.
Yet the win may also signal the beginning of a new chapter. With Miami set to move into Miami Freedom Park and facing decisions about how to rebuild around an aging but still dominant Messi, the club’s front office now must turn a historic peak into a sustainable era. For now, though, the pink and black can savor a moment that once felt distant: Inter Miami CF, MLS Cup champions at last.