FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami has won the club’s first MLS Cup, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on Saturday at Chase Stadium, with the clinching goal coming on a Rodrigo De Paul score in the 71st minute.
Lionel Messi didn’t score in the final, but he created a trio of moments that led to Miami’s goals. First, he sprung Tadeo Allende down the right, where his cross was turned in by Edier Ocampo for an own goal eight minutes in. Messi then assisted on the cup-winner, forcing a turnover and then setting up De Paul. Messi, who earned match MVP honors, tacked on another assist deep into stoppage time, sending Allende in for his record-setting ninth goal of these MLS playoffs.
Since signing Messi and friends in the summer of 2023, and instantly transforming into a global club, this is the trophy Miami most wanted. In front of a packed house of many pink-wearing fans, the club got it.
Here’s a closer look at the match and the latest trophy for Messi, De Paul and their star-studded teammates:
The midseason arrival makes the difference
From World Cup glory to MLS Cup for Messi and De Paul.
De Paul was the hero, making good on a golden chance to score after Messi played him through, as he calmly slotted the ball past Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
The game-winner was sparked not just by Messi’s pass, but by him counterpressing and winning the ball. It was an uncharacteristic mistake by Vancouver’s Andrés Cubas. He had plenty of time to make a forward pass or clearance before Messi was near him, but he hesitated on the ball and Messi took full advantage.
Jaiver Mascherano has pointed to Messi’s defensive work rate all throughout the playoffs. He has created numerous goals from his own pressing and in MLS Cup’s biggest moment, he has done it again.
Messi –> De Paul
That Argentine connection always delivers in the biggest moments. 🇦🇷@InterMiamiCF // MLS Cup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/AC90SmP1MF
— Major League Soccer 🏆 (@MLS) December 6, 2025
The assist, and the one that would follow in stoppage time, gave Messi an unbelievable 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists) in six playoff matches.
De Paul finding the decisive moment is not going to be received around the league without some angst.
He signed for the team from Atlético Madrid this summer when Miami did not have a designated player slot open. The club made it a loan so there was no transfer fee to be paid now and his 2025 salary falls under the DP threshold. Technically, it’s allowed, just a creative workaround under MLS’ roster rules.
Miami has a purchase option for De Paul this winter, worth around $17 million per sources briefed on the deal, and he will undoubtedly become a DP in 2026.
Double (triple?) post haunts Vancouver
Despite what the scoreline says, the Whitecaps largely controlled the final and, after equalizing in the second half, the visitors were on the front foot to take the lead.
No moment came closer than what happened to Emmanuel Sabbi in the 62nd minute.
Sabbi weaved his way into the box and fired a shot that ricocheted off one post, rolled tantalizingly across the goal line and hit the other post before rolling clear. Sabbi tried to get on the rebound and in a scramble, and hit the post a third time.
OH MY. Vancouver almost get another!@WhitecapsFC // MLS Cup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/LIC93ZzGDN
— Major League Soccer 🏆 (@MLS) December 6, 2025
Finals typically come down to fine margins, and it doesn’t get much finer than that. And cruelly, less than 10 minutes later, Miami had taken the lead.
Vancouver, whose effort had been led by Thomas Müller’s actions and creation for much of the match, had equalized minutes earlier through Ali Ahmed on a goal assisted by Brian White. It simply wasn’t enough to combat a team that can be relentless in the moments when they matter most.
WE. ARE. LEVEL.
Ali Ahmed scores and it’s tied. // MLS Cup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/Auh3sq7Dd5
— Major League Soccer 🏆 (@MLS) December 6, 2025
Messi moment leads to opener
It would not have been fitting if an own goal decided this game, one featuring two of the most fun teams in the league who have shown the firepower to score goals in bunches.
But while the opener was an own goal, the moment started with a bit of Messi brilliance. Inter Miami’s legendary No. 10 took the ball near midfield and used a quick two touch to pinball between two Vancouver defenders, then popped a short little pass over a third defender to set Allende off into space on the run that eventually led to the goal.
MIAMI ARE ON TOP EARLY. 1-0. 😳
📺 Free on Apple TV, FOX & TSN: https://t.co/XdexB7qQkt // MLS Cup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/vm6zEz2DmE
— Major League Soccer 🏆 (@MLS) December 6, 2025
It wasn’t as magical as Messi’s curling free kick vs. Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup final, the defining moment of his career in MLS going into this game. But it at least showed that Messi remains the player most often creating goals for Inter Miami. He either scored or assisted on all 12 of Miami’s goals going into last week’s conference final. He assisted in the win over NYCFC, too.
And once again, with MLS Cup on the line, it was Messi creating the opening goal — even if he didn’t get credited with the assist on that one.
Alba, Busquets go out on top
With one more trophy won, the legendary careers of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets come to a close.
The Barcelona and Spain legends each announced this season would be their last. The season lasted as long as it could have, extending through MLS Cup.
Alba, 36, came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy, before leaving to sign for Valencia and then rejoining the Catalan club in 2012. He became one of the best left backs in the world, winning six La Liga titles and one Champions League in an 11-year spell with Barcelona, as well as the 2012 European Championship with the Spanish national team.
Busquets, 37, was also a graduate of La Masia. In total he played 722 times for Barca during his 15 years at the Camp Nou, establishing himself as one of the best players in the club’s illustrious history and winning 32 trophies.
Also a pillar for Spain, the former captain announced his retirement from international duty in 2022 having made 143 appearances for his country (the third-highest tally in history for the nation) and having won two major trophies: the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship two years later.
Both players helped revolutionize their respective positions in different ways during their careers. It’s fitting that their last match has ended with them lifting a trophy.
