Inter Miami, featuring Lionel Messi, has won the MLS. © APA / ELSA

Triumph with Miami: Messi can call himself MLS champion

Lionel Messi has won the Major League Soccer (MLS) championship title for the first time with Inter Miami.

07 December 2025

From: dpa/sn

In Fort Lauderdale, the favored hosts won an intense MLS Cup final 3-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps, including former Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller, and secured their first ever championship in the North American professional soccer league in front of approximately 21.000 spectators.

An own goal by Edier Ocampo (8th minute) gave Miami the lead, but Messi's World Cup-winning teammate Rodrigo de Paul (71st minute) effectively sealed the victory after a pass from the Argentinian superstar. Messi also set up Tadeo Allende's goal (96th minute) to make it 2-1. Ali Ahmed had scored Miami's equalizer (60th minute). With this title, Miami qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Inter Miami won the title for the first time. © APA / ELSA

Messi now has to find a new direction. While he will continue playing for Inter Miami in the first season at the new stadium, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and likely Luis Suárez all ended their professional careers with the final victory. Therefore, what Miami will look like next season is uncertain.

Müller issues a challenge

“We’ll be back in this final next year, and we’ll be stronger than this year, but that’s all in the future,” said 36-year-old Thomas Müller after his Vancouver Whitecaps lost 3-1 to Miami in the final. “For many of the guys, it hurts even more, of course. They’ve been fighting for this title in this league for years, and now they had the chance. And watching them suffer, that’s tough,” he added. But “I’m already thinking about next season because I know what potential is still there.”