For the first time in its history, Inter Miami CF has won the Supporters’ Shield. The team secured the best record in the 2024 MLS regular season with a 3-2 victory over Columbus Crew today. Captain Lionel Messi scored twice, and forward Luis Suárez added another goal, while goalkeeper Drake Callender made a crucial penalty save, marking this historic achievement for the club. The trophy guarantees Inter Miami the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the advantage of home field in the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
As Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami has qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, marking their second consecutive appearance in the tournament; they reached the quarterfinals in 2024. The team can secure a direct spot in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Champions Cup by winning the 2024 MLS Cup.
For the first time in club history, the team will host a postseason match, facing the winner of the Eastern Conference Wild Card match in the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs between the 8th and 9th seeds in a Best of 3 series, starting Saturday, October 26. Inter Miami will play at home in the first and potentially the third match of the series at Chase Stadium, while the second match will be played at the opponent’s venue. The schedule for the Best of 3 series will be finalized once the complete schedule for the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs is announced.
Debuting in the MLS in 2020, Inter Miami is now only the sixth active club to win the Supporters’ Shield within its first five seasons in the league and the seventeenth different club to win the shield in the league’s 29 seasons. Since the expansion of the regular season 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 San Jose Earthquakes in 2012.
Head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has guided Inter Miami CF through a record-breaking season, achieving historic records for the club. Notable accomplishments include becoming the third fastest club to clinch a playoff spot and leading the league in wins, goals, and points in the club’s history (with more matches still to play).
In his second season at the helm, Martino has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, elevating the team from 27th place in the Supporters’ Shield rankings in 2023 to first place in 2024. He has propelled Inter Miami to a record of 20 wins, 4 losses, and 8 draws, with a goal difference of +25, and two regular-season matches remaining. The Supporters’ Shield is the ninth trophy for Martino as a club coach and his fourth in the MLS.
The team has been bolstered by contributions from a diverse roster, including international stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba; homegrown players from the Benjamin Academy like Cremaschi, David Ruiz, Ian Fray, and Noah Allen; SuperDraft selections Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso; promising young talents from around the world like Diego Gómez, Federico Redondo, and Tomás Avilés; veterans at the peak of their careers such as Julian Gressel and Matías Rojas; team leader and steadfast goalkeeper Drake Callender, along with all other roster members.
Notably, Messi has excelled in the regular season, recording impressive stats of 17 goals and 15 assists— the highest for a player on the team—in just 17 matches. Suárez has also played a key role in his first season with the club, leading the team with 18 goals during the regular season and contributing six assists. The duo has produced several standout moments on their path to securing 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 single-season points record. The team will need to win both remaining matches to surpass the 73-point mark set by New England Revolution in 2021, culminating with a clash against New England on Decision Day.
Saturday, October 5, away against Toronto FC (4 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Saturday, October 19, at home against New England Revolution (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)