In a night of pure football magic, Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to their first-ever Major League Soccer championship, securing a dramatic 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Messi's Masterclass Seals Historic Win
The Argentine superstar was the architect of Miami's triumph at a packed Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While the scoreboard showed a 3-1 win, the story was the mesmerizing performance of Lionel Messi, who provided two crucial assists and was involved in the build-up to the opening goal. His genius turned the tide for the home side when they needed it most.
The match began with an early advantage for Miami, courtesy of an Edier Ocampo own goal in the eighth minute. However, the Canadian visitors, led by German veteran Thomas Mueller, fought back valiantly. Their persistence paid off when Ali Ahmed equalised in the 60th minute, setting the stage for a tense finale.
Dramatic Turnaround and Decisive Blow
Vancouver nearly completed the comeback just two minutes later, with Emmanuel Sabbi's shot agonisingly striking both posts. With momentum on their side, the Whitecaps seemed in control. The game's pivotal moment arrived from a rare mistake. Vancouver midfielder Andres Cubas was dispossessed by Messi, who swiftly advanced and set up his Argentine international teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, for a clinical finish to make it 2-1.
The Canadian side never recovered from that hammer blow. Miami sealed their historic victory deep into injury time when Messi once again turned provider, slipping a pass to Tadeo Allende who scored the third goal, sparking wild celebrations among the rapturous home crowd.
A Dream Realised for Beckham and Miami
This MLS Cup crown represents the ultimate validation for club co-owner David Beckham. The former England and Manchester United star had long envisioned bringing elite football success to Miami. "There was a lot of sleepless nights, but I always believed," Beckham said after the match. "We always promised our fans that we would bring success, and bring the best players, and today we've achieved that."
The victory marks the crowning achievement for a franchise that only entered the league in 2020 and made global headlines by signing Messi in 2023. It also served as a fitting farewell for two key figures in the club's rise: former Spanish internationals Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who played their final professional match before retirement.
For Vancouver, the defeat was a heartbreaking end to a valiant campaign. For Inter Miami and their fans, the night of December 6, 2025, will forever be remembered as the moment Lionel Messi delivered the ultimate prize to South Florida.
