For the first time in its history, Inter Miami CF has secured the Supporters’ Shield, finishing as the best team in the overall 2024 MLS regular season following a thrilling 2-3 victory over the Columbus Crew. The match featured a brace from captain Lionel Messi, a goal from striker Luis Suárez, and a crucial penalty save by goalkeeper Drake Callender, culminating in this historic achievement for the team. This victory positions Inter Miami as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, granting them home-field advantage throughout the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
As Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami qualifies for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, allowing the team to compete in this tournament for the second consecutive year after reaching the quarterfinals in 2024. Additionally, the team can earn a bye to the Round of 16 in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup by clinching the 2024 MLS Cup.
For the first time in the club’s history, Inter Miami will host a home playoff game, where they will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Wild Card match between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series. The team will play the first game of the series at Chase Stadium, with the third match hosted at their venue if necessary, while the opponent will host the second game. The full schedule for the Round One Best-of-3 Series will be determined upon the release of the complete Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule.
Since their debut in MLS in 2020, Inter Miami has become the sixth active club to win the Supporters’ Shield within its first five seasons in the league and the 17th club overall in the 29 seasons of the league. After the regular season was expanded to 34 games in 2011, Inter Miami is just the third team to clinch the Supporters’ Shield after missing the playoffs the previous season, joining LAFC (2022) and the San Jose Earthquakes (2012).
Head Coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has led Inter Miami CF to an unprecedented season, marked by historic records. The team has achieved the third-fastest playoff berth and has dominated the league with the most wins, goals, and points in the club’s history, all while still having matches left to play.
In his second year as head coach, Martino has transformed the team dramatically, advancing from 27th in the Supporters’ Shield race in 2023 to the top in 2024. Under his leadership, Inter Miami boasts a record of 20 wins, 4 losses, and 8 draws, with a goal differential of +25, and two regular season games still to play. The Supporters’ Shield represents Martino’s ninth trophy as a club manager and his fourth in MLS.
The team has benefited from contributions across its roster, including global stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, as well as local academy talents Benjamin Cremaschi, David Ruiz, Ian Fray, and Noah Allen. Other notable players include MLS SuperDraft selections Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso, emerging young talents Diego Gómez, Federico Redondo, and Tomás Avilés, experienced veterans such as Julian Gressel and Matías Rojas, and team leader and goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Messi has been particularly outstanding this season, scoring 17 goals and providing a team-high 15 assists in just 17 matches. Suárez has also made a significant impact in his first season, leading the team with 18 goals and contributing six assists. Together, they have achieved multiple standout performances, becoming the first pair of teammates in MLS history to earn Player of the Matchday honors at least three times each in a single season.
With two regular season matches remaining, Inter Miami is on the hunt for the MLS single-season points record. To surpass the current record of 73 points set by the New England Revolution in 2021, the team will need victories in both of its upcoming matches, concluding the season against New England:
Saturday, October 5 at Toronto FC (4 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Saturday, October 19 vs. New England Revolution (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)