Lionel Messi will aim for another trophy as Inter Miami prepares to host the MLS Cup final against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Dec. 6. The Argentine superstar played a pivotal role as Miami dominated New York City FC 5-1 on Saturday, capturing the Eastern Conference title.
Tadeo Allande starred with a hat-trick, assisted twice by longtime Messi teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who are expected to retire at the end of this season. Mateo Silvetti also scored after a Messi assist in the 67th minute, marking Messi’s 405th career assist for club and country—a record widely regarded as the highest in football history. Telasco Segovia added a late goal off Alba’s heel pass to seal the rout.
“This is a very satisfying result, but the work continues,” Allande said in Spanish. “We still have work to do, but we are happy with what we have accomplished.”
Inter Miami, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, will host the Vancouver Whitecaps, who beat San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western Conference final. This will be Miami’s first MLS Cup final appearance, after failing to advance past the opening postseason round in any of their first five seasons. Miami went 0-2 against Vancouver earlier this year in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals, losing 5-1 on aggregate.
Despite conceding an early goal from Justin Haak in the 37th minute, Inter Miami quickly responded. A long pass from Busquets allowed Allande to score from 12 yards out for a 1-0 lead. He then doubled the advantage with a header from Alba’s cross in the 23rd minute. Silvetti made it 3-1 after Messi set him up, and the remaining goals completed Allande’s hat-trick and added Segovia’s late strike.
Messi, who joined Miami midway through the 2023 season when the club was struggling at the bottom of the standings, has transformed the team’s fortunes. The World Cup winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or champion has helped elevate the club’s global profile, with his No. 10 jersey selling worldwide. Inter Miami is now eyeing its first MLS title, a new stadium near Miami International Airport, and Messi is expected to compete for a second consecutive MLS MVP award.
The Whitecaps enter the final after a dominant performance over San Diego FC. Brian White scored twice, assisted by Andrés Cubas and Ali Ahmed, while an own goal by San Diego’s Pablo Sisniega added to Vancouver’s tally. Substitute Hirving Lozano pulled one back for San Diego, who finished with 10 men after goalkeeper Sisniega was sent off in the 79th minute.
Vancouver will now travel to Miami for the final, facing a team they defeated earlier this year in the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals. Both clubs are seeking their first MLS Cup, making the upcoming clash highly anticipated.
Messi’s impact has been felt on and off the field. His presence has attracted international stars, including tennis champion Carlos Alcaraz and members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, to matches in Miami. On the field, his vision and playmaking remain unmatched, highlighted by his career-record assist in the Eastern Conference final.
As Inter Miami prepares to host Vancouver, fans around the world will be watching closely. The final promises to be a high-stakes match, featuring a global superstar, rising talent, and the opportunity for both clubs to make history in Major League Soccer.
