Messi and Inter Miami have completed their ascent, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday in the MLS Cup final for the franchise’s first championship. It came 2 1/2 years after the legend arrived in South Florida, a move that stunned plenty of onlookers at the time.

Inter Miami have won the club’s first MLS Cup, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday at Chase Stadium, with the winner coming on a Rodrigo De Paul goal in the 71st minute.

Argentine icon lifts club’s maiden league trophyTwo assists in historic final — Messi inspires Inter Miami to first MLS titleInter Miami clinched the MLS Championship for the first time in the

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF are Major League Soccer champions, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 and earning their first MLS Cup title on Saturday.

Finally, there was the coupe de Messi on this title game. He played a ball off his chest, and to his left foot, which popped a pass over the Vancouver defense in stoppage time. It was Allende sent in alone on goal this time. His goal in the 96th minute started the celebration.

An MLS Cup title shuts the door on the first iteration of Messi in Miami. With a new stadium and running mates beckoning, what comes next?

Even when he doesn't score a goal, Lionel Messi can still impact a soccer game with his uncanny passing ability, which he did in Inter Miami's victory in MLS Cup.

Lionel Messi lurked in midfield, and Alba offered a deft chip to the Argentine’s chest, before Tadeo Allende finished the attack. The Alba-Messi linkup, which bloomed and blossomed at Barcelona, provided one final, fleeting moment to savor.

Lionel Messi was a camouflaged predator until he found his moment, leading Inter Miami to the MLS Cup crown Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) runs with the ball as Vancouver Whitecaps forward Thomas Müller (13) defends during the first half of the MLS Cup final soccer match Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo enter the 2026 World Cup with legendary resumes with plenty of similarities and some big differences.

P erhaps the person least impressed with Rayan Cherki’s rabona assist against Sunderland was Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who urged his midfielder to instead adopt the “simplicity” of Lionel Messi’s playmaking.