Lionel Messi scored two goals in Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew, allowing the team to secure the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the top team in the MLS regular season. This achievement marked Messi’s 46th career trophy, further extending his record for the most trophies won by any male football player in history.
The triumph gave Inter Miami a crucial opportunity for home-field advantage in the upcoming MLS playoffs. It is Messi’s second major trophy with Inter Miami, following their Leagues Cup win shortly after he joined the club in 2023.
Following the match, Messi expressed confidence in his team’s capabilities: “We knew this was a group that could fight for this [trophy].” His teammate Luis Suarez also contributed to the scoreline. Inter Miami is set to begin a best-of-three first-round playoff series at the end of October. Winning this series would enable them to host every playoff match thereafter, including key fixtures in the Eastern Conference semifinal and final, as well as the MLS Cup final.
Messi highlighted the significance of playing at home: “We have a great advantage in that we play all the games at home, which was what we were looking for. I think that we are very, very strong at home.”
Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino praised his team’s “dominant” performance, noting that while the MLS Cup final on December 7 is the ultimate goal, securing the Supporters’ Shield was also a significant achievement.
Despite missing 15 matches this season due to national team commitments and a lengthy recovery from an ankle injury, Messi acknowledged the team’s resilience: “Throughout the year we had many, many injuries, where we couldn’t all be together … but the group was getting the most out of every tough game.”
Inter Miami is also in contention for the best regular-season record in MLS history. With their recent victory, they currently have 68 points, and if they win their last two matches against Toronto and New England, they could achieve a new single-season record of 74 points.