Rodrigo De Paul’s 71st minute goal helped Inter Miami claim its first-ever MLS Cup title with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at Chase Stadium in Miami.
After going ahead via an eighth-minute own goal, Inter Miami found themselves on the ropes against a Vancouver side that was pressing for an equalizer. The tying goal finally came for the Whitecaps in the 60th minute, thanks to Ali Ahmed. But the Whitecaps didn’t stop there as they continued going forward in hopes of taking the lead and further quieting the Miami crowd.
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They nearly did just that two minutes after Ahmed’s goal when Emmanuel Sabbi hit both posts on a shot just inside the Herons’ box.
Lionel Messi’s stamp on the final was clear on all three of Inter Miami goals. After starting the play that led to the opening own goal, he forced a turnover by Vancouver midfielder Andrés Cubas and sent a through-ball in for De Paul, who beat Yohei Takaoka with his second touch.
Messi would later cap off the afternoon with a 96th minute assist on a Tadeo Allende goal to make it 3-1.
The MLS Cup win caps off a two-year journey for Inter Miami’s leadership team of Jorge Mas and David Beckham, who helped bring Messi to MLS in 2023 and later secured the signings of other international stars like De Paul, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba. (Saturday marked the final matches for Busquets and Alba, who are both retiring.)
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Inter Miami will now get to open the 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park next spring as defending champions.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Miami wins its first MLS Cup behind an early own goal followed by two Messi-assisted goals, one from Rodrigo De Paul in the 71st minute and the closer via Tadeo Allende in stoppage time. Vancouver played an excellent match, but Messi and Co. in front of their home crowd proved to be too much to handle.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are the 2026 MLS Cup champions.
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Another Messi assist locks up the trophy for the home side as Tadeo Allende is the lucky recipient and nails the shot to put Miami up 3-1.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
7 minutes of stoppage time have been added. Can Miami hold on?
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Yahoo Sports Staff
De Paul and Laborda pick up yellow cards in the final minutes.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Berhalter’s curling corner kick is punched away by Novo.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
With less than 5 minutes to play in regulation, the intensity has picked up on both sides. The end is near for the Whitecaps’ dream season while Messi and Co. can already feel the trophy in their hands. I
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Miami has retaken the lead after Messi capitalizes on a Vancouver mistake and De Paul sends it into the net.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Sean Leahy
Vancouver subs in Ryan Gauld and Joedrick Pupe for Ralph Priso and goalscorer Ali Ahmed
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Sean Leahy
Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon earns a yellow card for fouling Mateo Silvetti
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Ahmed scores with a near post shot that Novo gets his hands on, but it deflect off the post and into the goal.
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Sean Leahy
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Sean Leahy
Inter Miami subs in Telasco Segovia for Baltasar Rodríguez, who was on a yellow card.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Sean Leahy
Sebastian Berhalter sails the free kick over the Inter Miami net. Another wasted opportunity for the Whitecaps who remain down 1-0
(Illustration by Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
(Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
