Argentine provides two assists in comeback victory, retiring friends Busquets and Alba on a winning note and fulfilling Beckham’s promise
Dreams were realized and a city erupted as Lionel Messi orchestrated Inter Miami’s historic first MLS Cup victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Vancouver Whitecaps on a charged Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale.
Before a rapturous home crowd at Chase Stadium, the Argentine superstar was the decisive force, creating two goals and inspiring the comeback that secured the championship.
“This is the moment that I’ve been waiting for, and that we as a team have been waiting for,” said a beaming Messi, named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player.
The victory was a glittering vindication for co-owner David Beckham, who had spent years dreaming of this success for his club. “There were a lot of sleepless nights, but I always believed,” Beckham said. “We always promised our fans that we would bring success… and today we’ve achieved that.”
Miami took an early lead from a Vancouver own goal, but the Whitecaps—spearheaded by German veteran Thomas Müller—fought back and leveled the score in the 60th minute. They nearly took the lead moments later, with a shot that shuddered off both posts.
With Vancouver in control, the game turned on a single, costly mistake. Midfielder Andrés Cubas was robbed of the ball by the relentless Messi, who sped away and slid a perfect pass for his Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul to finish clinically.
“We made a mistake—the ball dropped for Messi and he made the pass,” a rueful Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen said. “When you play Miami, they have the players to take advantage of these moments.”
Stunned, Vancouver never recovered. In injury time, Messi delivered the final flourish, setting up Tadeo Allende to seal the 3-1 win and ignite the celebrations.
The championship also served as a perfect, storybook farewell for two of Messi’s longtime friends and teammates, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who are now retiring. “That was one of the main objectives,” Messi said. “We say goodbye in the best way to two of the best players in football’s history.”
After entering the league just four years ago, Inter Miami’s crowning achievement is now complete, delivered by the magical feet of the player they crossed a continent to sign.
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