For the first time in the club’s history, Inter Miami CF has clinched the Supporters’ Shield. The team secured the best regular-season record in MLS 2024 with a 2-3 victory against Columbus Crew, highlighted by a brace from captain Lionel Messi, a goal from forward Luis Suárez, and a penalty saved by goalkeeper Drake Callender. This historic achievement guarantees Inter Miami the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the advantage of playing at home during the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs 2024.
As Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami has qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, marking the team’s second consecutive participation in the competition; they reached the quarter-finals in 2024. Inter Miami still has the opportunity to secure a direct spot in the round of 16 of the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup by winning the MLS Cup 2024.
The team will host a postseason match at home for the first time in club history when they face the winner of the Eastern Conference ‘Wildcard’ match between the 8th and 9th seeded teams in the First Round Best of 3 Series, starting Saturday, October 26. Inter Miami will play at home in the first and potential third games of the series at Chase Stadium, with the opposing team playing the second game at their venue. The schedule for the First Round Best of 3 Series will be defined once the complete Audi MLS Cup Playoffs 2024 schedule is announced.
Making their MLS debut in 2020, Inter Miami is now only the sixth active club to win the Supporters’ Shield in their first five seasons in the league and the seventeenth different club to claim the trophy in the league’s 29 seasons. Since the regular season expanded to 34 matches in 2011, Miami is just the third team to win the Supporters’ Shield after missing the playoffs the previous season, joining LAFC in 2022 and the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012.
Head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has led Inter Miami CF through a record-breaking season, with the club achieving historic milestones. Notable accomplishments include being the third-fastest club to secure a playoff spot and dominating the league with the highest number of wins, goals, and points in the club’s history (with games still to be played).
In his second season at the helm, Martino has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the team, rising from 27th place in the Supporters’ Shield standings in 2023 to first place in 2024. He has helped Inter Miami achieve a record of 20 wins, 4 losses, and 8 draws, with a goal difference of +25, with two regular-season matches remaining. The Supporters’ Shield adds to Martino’s collection of trophies, marking his ninth as a head coach and fourth in MLS.
The team has been propelled by contributions from a diverse group of players, including global stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba; locally developed talents from the Benjamin Academy such as Benjamin Cremaschi, David Ruiz, Ian Fray, and Noah Allen; SuperDraft selections like Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso; promising young talents from around the world like Diego Gómez, Federico Redondo, and Tomás Avilés; seasoned veterans with championship experience like Julian Gressel and Matías Rojas; and the steadfast team leader and goalkeeper Drake Callender, along with all other members of the squad.
Notably, Messi has shone during the regular season, recording an impressive tally of 17 goals and 15 assists, the highest for a player on the team, across just 17 matches. Suárez has also played a pivotal role in his first season with the club, leading the team with 18 goals during the regular season while also contributing six assists. The duo has produced numerous standout individual moments on the path to winning the Supporters’ Shield, becoming the first teammates in MLS history to be named Player of the Week three times each in a single season.
With two regular-season matches remaining, Inter Miami aims to break the MLS points record in a season. The team will need to win both of their remaining games to surpass the 73-point mark set by New England Revolution in 2021, culminating in a showdown against New England on Decision Day.
On Saturday, October 5, they will face Toronto FC away at 4 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). On Saturday, October 19, they will host New England Revolution at 6 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).