Lionel Messi and Inter Miami lift first trophy in club history after a wild penalty shootout win

In a nerve-wracking penalty kick contest, Inter Miami stays composed to turn away Nashville SC and win the Leagues Cup final

Lionel Messi scored in the 23rd minute and Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC in a penalty shootout 10-9 to win the Leagues Cup and lift the club's first trophy in history after finishing in regulation 1-1 Saturday night at GEODIS Park. Drake Callender had quite the night, scoring an own goal, saving two penalties in the shootout, and making the crucial take past Nashville's keeper Elliot Pannico to give Miami the victory. Callender was also named the keeper of the tournament.

Messi was named player of the tournament and won the Golden Boot after scoring 10 goals and assisting on one more in what was a dominating if not magical introduction to soccer fans in the United States. It is also the 44th trophy of Messi's illustrious career, an all-time record.

In a clash between expansion clubs that joined the league at the same time, Messi proved to be the difference -- just like he has been since joining Inter Miami -- by opening the scoring in the first half. Nashville's Fafa Picault would create a chance from a corner late in the match that led to Callender's own goal before Leonardo Campana missed a chance at an open net that could've won the match for the Herons, who were composed enough in the penalty shootout to see the job through.

It was a game that had something for everyone as Nashville were the first team to hold Inter Miami scoreless for the first 20 minutes of a game that Messi started, but his individual brilliance always shines through. Scoring through five Nashville defenders, Messi's goal was unstoppable even though everyone was well positioned.

This may be Miami's first trophy in history but they're hoping to add to it quickly with the Herons playing in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23 against FC Cincinnati. Miami will be looking to qualify for the playoffs when their Major League Soccer regular season play resumes on Aug. 26 versus the New York Red Bulls. During this short period, Messi has already raised expectations for the club as the sky is the limit for what they can do.

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Here are a few moments from the match:

Drake Callender had a day

With an excellent shootout by both teams, it's only right that it came down to both keepers in the end and Callender was composed to complete an excellent game. Despite scoring an own goal, Callender made five saves in the box while also dealing with numerous Nashville set plays.

It could've ended in regulation 

Leagues Cup has had quite a few wild moments but going from Sam Surridge almost winning the match at one end to Leonardo Campana rounding the keeper on the other end but not finding the back of the net, it was quite an ending prior to the penalty shootout. But with both teams able to keep their composure, it still sharpened them for an excellent shootout.

Can't miss penalties

These teams will meet again on Aug. 30 and they could also square off in the Eastern Conference playoffs if both qualify. If that happens, be sure to get your popcorn ready.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Champions

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:25 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Panicco's take is saved and Miami are Leagues Cup champions!

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅X

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Callender finishes like a field player!

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Shaffelburg is Nashville's final field player and it's good

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Yedlin just keeps his take in

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Sean Davis just beats Callender

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Supreme composure for Ruiz

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:21 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Down the middle for MacNaughton too

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:21 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Down the middle for Gomez and this is excellent 

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Lovitz fires it right into the upper 90

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Alba sends Panicco the wrong way

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:19 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Moore keeps this going

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:18 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Kryvtsov makes no mistake

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:17 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Surridge extends this shootout

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:16 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Ulloa's take is saved by Panicco and we'll keep going

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅X

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Zimmerman takes this to sudden death

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Miller ekes it into the net and Miami are 4/4

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Godoy makes his penalty

Nashville SC: ✅✅X✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Campana freezes the keeper and finishes strong

Nashville SC: ✅✅X

Inter Miami: ✅✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:12 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Leao's take is saved by Drake Callender!

Nashville SC: ✅✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:12 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Sergio Busquets eases it into the net for Miami sending the keeper the wrong way

Nashville SC: ✅

Inter Miami: ✅✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:11 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Hany Mukhtar finishes with confidence

Nashville SC: ✅

Inter Miami: ✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:10 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

An easy penalty finish for Lionel Messi

Nashville SC:

Inter Miami: ✅

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:07 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

End to end stuff

Surridge has a shot on goal at one end but Leonardo Campana had a 1v1 to win it for Miami and wasn't able to get his shot on goal after beating the keeper sending the match to penalties. It's the second time that Miami has hit the post in the second half showing that this is a game of inches.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 11:00 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Neither team has lost a shootout in this tournament 

Four minutes remaining regulation and if it's level at 90 we're heading to penalties. Miami has won their shootout while Nashville has also won their two shootouts so one of those records will come to an end if the match gets there.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 10:53 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Robert Taylor won't continue

it's quite a blow for Inter Miami as Taylor can't continue and Ruiz will enter. After scoring a goal against the Union in Miami's last match, Ruiz may be able to catch Nashville on the break for a winner in the last ten minutes.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 10:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

DRAKE CALLENDER COMES UP BIG

Nashville were in space as Surridge put a shot on target but Callender got down to save it before Mukhtar's follow-up goes out for yet another corner kick for Nashville.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 10:45 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Messi off the post!

He was close to his second goal of the match as Nashville lost him in space for just a second. Miami will have more chances but with only 18 minutes remaining, it isn't on the Herons' side.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 10:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Changes coming for Miami

Diego Gomez and Leonardo Campana will enter for Josef Martinez and Benjamin Cremaschi as Inter Miami looks to end the match in regulation. Fresh legs and the ability to play a more direct style could prove to be the difference.

[Aug 19, 2023 at 10:31 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Nashville SC 1, Inter Miami  1

Nashville makes their corner kick count via a shot from Fafa Picault that was turned in as an own goal by Drake Callender. It was quite a chaotic corner with Nashville toeing the line for being offside but it will count after bouncing around the box.