Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami to its first-ever Supporters Shield, securing the title along with home-field advantage as they head into the Major League Soccer playoffs.
In a thrilling match against the Columbus Crew, Messi showcased his brilliance by scoring twice just before halftime. Goalkeeper Drake Callender made a crucial save by blocking a penalty kick in the 84th minute, allowing Inter Miami to clinch a 3-2 victory over the defending MLS Cup champions and solidifying their status as the top team in the regular season.
This victory marks Messi’s 46th major trophy, reinforcing his record as the most decorated men’s soccer player in history. It also adds to the trophy cabinet of Inter Miami, which previously celebrated the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi’s arrival in 2023.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Messi expressed confidence, stating, “We knew this was a group that could fight for this.”
Luis Suárez also contributed to the scoreline, and Inter Miami is set to open a best-of-three first-round playoff series in late October. A successful series would grant them the privilege of hosting every subsequent match, including the Eastern Conference semifinal, the East final, and the highly anticipated MLS Cup final on December 7.
“We have a nice opportunity to go down in history… and now we think about what is coming,” Messi shared with Apple TV after the match. “We have a great advantage in that we play all the games at home, which was what we were looking for. I think that we are very, very strong at home.”
Inter Miami also has the chance to set a new record for the best MLS regular-season mark. With their latest win, the team’s record stands at 20-4-8, totaling 68 points. If they secure victories in their final two matches—against Toronto and New England—they could finish with a remarkable 74 points.
The current single-season points record of 73, held by New England in 2021, is now within reach.
Messi’s first goal came in the 45th minute, where he received a long pass from Jordi Alba, his former Barcelona teammate. Displaying remarkable skill, he maneuvered past two defenders and found the net against Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Just before the halftime whistle, Messi struck again with a well-placed free kick from 30 yards out, catching Schulte off guard and extending the lead to 2-0.
“Dominant,” was how Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino described the team’s performance.
Columbus responded quickly after halftime, with Diego Rossi scoring in the first minute. However, Inter Miami quickly regained their two-goal advantage when Suárez capitalized on a defensive mishap, heading the ball into an empty net for a 3-1 lead.
Although Juan “Cucho” Hernández converted a penalty kick for Columbus to narrow the score to 3-2, the Crew faced a setback when Rudy Camacho received a red card, leaving them to play with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite being down a player, Columbus created scoring opportunities, but Callender’s timely saves, including a critical block of a shot from Mohamed Farsi, helped maintain Miami’s lead.
Messi’s two-goal performance marked his fifth such game this season, bringing his tally to 17 goals in just 17 league appearances. Despite missing a significant number of matches due to international duties and injury recovery, his impact on the field remains undeniable.
With Messi in the lineup, Inter Miami boasts a record of 10 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses in MLS play this season.
Messi acknowledged the challenges the team faced throughout the year, particularly with injuries, but highlighted the resilience of the group in overcoming adversity.
As the Crew and LA Galaxy still held hopes of catching up in the Supporters Shield race, Inter Miami has effectively secured their position at the top.
“Dec. 7 is what we want,” Martino stated, alluding to the MLS Cup final. “But this is not insignificant today.”
