Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi shone in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Columbus Crew, leading the club to its first MLS Supporters’ Shield title.
The Argentine playmaker opened the scoring with a close-range finish and doubled the lead just before halftime with a stunning free-kick.
Columbus Crew’s winger Diego Rossi managed to halve the deficit, but former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez quickly restored Inter Miami’s two-goal cushion. Despite a penalty from Cucho Hernandez bringing the score to 3-2, Miami held on for the win.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Inter Miami, as it secures their position at the top of the table and earns them the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the MLS club with the best regular-season record, for the first time since their debut in 2020. With this trophy, Messi adds to his impressive collection, bringing his career silverware total to 46 titles for both club and country.
By finishing at the top of the standings, Inter Miami has also ensured home advantage during the postseason playoffs. “The first objective has been achieved and now we have to think about what’s next,” Messi stated.
“The first round is three games but then it’s one game and anything can happen. But we have the great advantage of playing all the games at home, which is what we were looking for. We are very strong at home.”
To set a new MLS record for most points in a regular season, Inter Miami needs to secure wins in their final two league matches, surpassing the current record of 73 points set by the New England Revolution in 2021.
