Messi wins 46th trophy as Miami clinch MLS Supporters’ Shield

Lionel Messi netted a brace as Inter Miami triumphed over the Columbus Crew, the reigning champions of Major League Soccer, with a score of 3-2, securing the Supporters’ Shield for achieving the best record in the regular season.

Messi, who had been quiet until the final moments of the first half, opened the scoring by chesting down a long pass and benefiting from a deflection off Crew defender Malte Amundsen before slotting it home. Shortly after, he extended the lead to 2-0 by curling a precise free-kick into the corner, taking advantage of a poorly set-up defensive wall, leaving goalkeeper Patrick Schulte helpless.

Having recently returned from a two-month injury layoff, Messi has now tallied 17 goals and 15 assists across 17 games. However, just 20 seconds into the second half, Columbus responded with a goal from Diego Rossi, who expertly curled a shot into the far corner.

Miami quickly regained their two-goal lead when a miscommunication led goalkeeper Schulte to drop the ball to Luis Suarez, who headed it into an empty net. Columbus fought back again, narrowing the gap to 3-2 with a penalty from Cucho Hernandez following a handball by Noah Allen.

The Crew’s momentum was thwarted when Rudy Camacho received a second yellow card for a challenge on Federico Redondo. Despite being a man down, Columbus had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the match when a handball call against Ian Fray led to a penalty after a VAR review. However, Hernandez’s weak shot was saved by Miami keeper Drake Callender, preserving the win and the Shield for his team.

“I’m pleased to achieve the first goal and keep looking ahead. Today was a tough match against the defending champions,” Messi commented on Apple TV. “Even with a man down, we endured until the end, which reflects the character of this team.”

With this victory, Messi earned his 46th career trophy, reinforcing his status as the most decorated player in football history. The ultimate champion of MLS will be determined through the playoffs, where Miami and Columbus could face off again.

Inter Miami has amassed 68 points with two games left, ensuring they finish the season with the best record in the league. Winning both of their remaining matches would set a new single-season points record. As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Miami will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Columbus sits second in the Eastern standings, with Cincinnati, who lost 3-2 to New York City, in third place. Orlando, after defeating Philadelphia 2-1, is in fourth. The eighth and ninth place teams in each conference will meet in the wild card round, with the playoffs structured as a “best of three” for the first round, while the semifinals and finals will be single elimination.

Messi noted that while the Shield is a significant achievement, the MLS Cup remains the primary objective. “The first goal has been reached, now we need to focus on what comes next,” he said. “The playoffs start with three games, but then it’s one game where anything can happen. We have the advantage of playing at home, which is what we aimed for. We’re very strong at home.”

In other results, Charlotte, managed by former Aston Villa coach Dean Smith, secured the final automatic playoff spot in the East, with Karol Swiderski scoring twice in a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Chicago Fire. Meanwhile, D.C. United kept their wild card hopes alive with a 4-3 comeback win at Nashville, highlighted by two late goals from Gabriel Pirani.