Inter Miami beats Vancouver Whitecaps and wins the 2025 MLS Cup with a decisive performance by Lionel Messi

Inter Miami are the new champions of Major League Soccer. In front of a packed Chase Stadium this Saturday (6), Lionel Messi's team beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 and lifted the first MLS Cup in their history.

The game started slowly, with few offensive actions, but gained momentum when the home team found the goal that changed the dynamics of the final.

First Half Belongs to Inter Miami

The match began with strong marking from both sides and few gaps between the lines. Vancouver tried to block the central zone and force Miami into errors, but the plan lasted until the first Canadian mistake.

At 27 minutes, in a play built from a vertical pass by Messi, the Whitecaps' defense got tangled up. The deflection went in as an own goal and opened the scoring for Inter Miami. From then on, the home team gained momentum, circulated the ball better, and took the lead into halftime with authority.

Whitecaps Reaction

The second half saw a much more aggressive Whitecaps. The team adjusted the midfield, started recovering the ball higher up the pitch, and found the equalizer with Ali Ahmed, completing a play built up on the left side.

But Messi decides again: pass to De Paul and a goal of tranquility

The match's critical moment ended with another Canadian error. Andrés Cubas lost the ball in midfield, and Messi — with his usual reading of the game — found Rodrigo De Paul free in the area. The Argentine finished with precision, putting Inter Miami back in the lead.

The goal emotionally demoralized Vancouver. Coach Sorensen's substitutions, who opted to keep Thomas Müller in the game and take off Ali Ahmed, had no effect and, in practice, further disorganized the team. Miami began to control possession, exploited the open spaces, and scored the third goal with Messi, closing the decision and guaranteeing the title.

Celebration, coronation, and future

With the 3-1 victory secured, Inter Miami — led by owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas — reaches the top of American soccer. Coach Javier Mascherano, in his first season as manager, highlighted after the match that "this is just the beginning" and that the core of the squad is prepared to compete at a high level in the coming years. But he also admitted the strain: it took 58 games to win the title.

MLS closes its 2025 season with its biggest star in the spotlight. Messi, now a league champion, adds another chapter to the cultural and sporting impact that began with his arrival.

In 2026, Inter Miami will proudly display the champion's star on its crest—a symbol of a club that finally transformed expectation into achievement.