MLS Cup score: Lionel Messi records two assists as Inter Miami top Vancouver Whitecaps to win title

The Whitecaps pushed for a late equalizer before Messi helped set up an insurance goal as the Herons won MLS Cup for the first time

Lionel Messi has brought the third piece of silverware to Inter Miami as his assist on Rodrigo De Paul's winning goal led the Herons to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps to lift the MLS Cup for the first time in club history. The Herons went ahead early via an own goal by Vancouver right back Edier Ocampo, but they responded to Vancouver's pressure to get an eventual winner in front of their home fans at Chase Stadium.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham spoke about those changes following the match.

"You could see the change, and we started to control the ball a little bit more in midfield, and you know, you give the ball to Leo, he creates chances whether he's scoring them or creating them, but the team stuck together, and they've done that all year," Beckham said on the broadcast.

It's a victory that means everything, with it being the last match of the careers of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, while also being the close of Chase Stadium for the Herons, with Miami Freedom Park set to open next season. Goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo was strong in the net, making three saves, and Tadeo Allende closed things out, setting a record with his ninth goal of the postseason. 

Javier Mascherano changed the team in his first season in charge of the Herons, bringing Rios Novo and Mateo Silvetti into the lineup, but Miami's stars were also the difference in a match where Vancouver gave them everything that they could handle. While Mascherano had a storied career as a player, it's the first of what could be many trophies as a head coach for the Argentine manager. He also got to send off his former teammates in Busquets and Alba in the best way possible on top of the league. 

Messi's performance earned him the MLS Cup MVP award as he's been in strong form during these playoffs with 15 goal contributions, scoring six goals and assisting nine more (including secondary assists). With goal contributions in eight straight games to close out the season, Messi was on a mission and delivered time and time again. His embrace with Beckham during the celebrations following the match showed some of the emotion of what this means.

Miami were expected to win everything in their path, and while there were hiccups along the way, these playoffs showed what the Herons can do in the biggest moments to cap the season off with a trophy. They'll need to reload ahead of next season, but co-owner Jorge Mas assured that they'll do that while moving into their new stadium. Messi has already extended his contract to be along for the ride, and players like Silvetti will have a large role in what happens next for the Herons. 

This season was one that showed that the future is bright for Miami, but also for the league. Vancouver got a star of their own in Thomas Muller and were able to go toe to toe with Miami for most of the match, while Los Angeles FC have stars of their own. With spending increasing around the league, more will need to be done to keep up as the Herons are setting a new standard of what kind of star power can be brought to the team, and others around will need to keep up in order to stop Miami from going back-to-back. MLS needs a villain similar to the role played by the Los Angeles Dodgers in baseball, and if they can continue on this path, Miami just may take up that role.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 2:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

What a time for Inter Miami as they've won the MLS Cup for the first time in their history. Let's take a look back at the goals:

8' Miami 1 - Vancouver 0: It's an own goal by Ocampo to open the scoring for the Herons. Miami found space out wide and were able to get it to Tadeo Allende, whose cross across the box was turned into Vancouver's net. That's a poor start for the Caps.

60' Miami 1 - Vancouver 1: Rios Novo was there, but Ali Ahmed's shot was destined for the back of the net, we've got a game at Chase Stadium as Vancouver have been pushing.

72' Miami 2 - Vancouver 1: Messi takes the ball and immediately finds De Paul to put Miami back in the lead. It's nine straight with a goal or an assist for Messi, and what a time for De Paul's second goal for the club.

95' Miami 3 - Vancouver 1: Allende stands alone. With his insurance goal, Tadeo Allende has become the first player ever to score nine goals in an MLS postseason.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 4:38 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Weigandt will enter to close out stoppage time, which there will be seven minutes of.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

With Yannick Bright on, Mascherano is trying to wrestle control back of the game, and Vancouver has struggled from open play. They've had their chances from set pieces but that may not be enough.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 4:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's all about moments in a game of this magnitude, and Cubas has to be better with the ball there. One mistake, and the ball immediately went the other way, and Miami leads again. There's time for Vancouver to draw level again, but they need to throw everything forward. With that goal, Miami became the first team ever to reach 100 goals in MLS (including playoffs) in a single year.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 4:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It was already clear that Vancouver were pushing, but with the goal, they're now in control despite being away from home. And with Ryan Gauld entering, Sorensen sees a route to victory before the 90 is up.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 4:04 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Miami needed fresh legs in midfield and they'll get them in the second half of play, this also will see the Herons get a player on a yellow off the pitch in what has become a testy match. 

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:58 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Vancouver will look to overcome history and become the first team since the Los Angeles Galaxy to accomplish that feat, and they only have 40 minutes left to at least get an equalizer.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:54 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Miami may have ended the first half with a lead, but Vancouver were testing Rios Novo in net. This is a match that has plenty left, and Miami weren't able to get Messi the ball much in the first half of play, which they'll also want to change. With yellows to players on both sides and gem changers on the bench, this is a game which could see changes quite quickly.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:26 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Sabbi was in on net, and he expected Rios Novo to move, but the Miami keeper stood his ground to keep the match level. Javier Mascherano made a big call in swapping his keepers down the stream but it has worked to perfection so far.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Miami's weakness has been set pieces, and Sebastian Berhalter almost made them pay. Berhalter delivered a good ball to Brian White in the box, but Rios Novo was there to save. If the Whitecaps will get back into this, they'll need to maximize these situations.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:10 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

There's been a goal scored and we're more than 20 minutes into the match, but despite it being end-to-end, both defenses have been in the right position to block and clear shots before the keepers are tested.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Ocampo made a few mistakes in keeping Tadeo Allende onside and then also turning the ball into his own net. Miami have only lost one game after scoring first, and that was to Vancouver, but this is a game that could get out of hand quickly if the Whitecaps don't settle. 

[Dec 6, 2025 at 2:49 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Early fouls are showing how this game could go. Miami may not be known for their defense but these are teams who want to possess the ball and use physicality to make things happen. Miami are pressing and Vancouver will need to pass quickly if they are to play through it. 

[Dec 6, 2025 at 2:44 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

With the anthems out of the way, the stage is set for the MLS Cup to kick off shortly. Pressure will be on both defenses in this one in what should be an exciting match.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 2:25 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Chase Stadium is ready for the clash of stars as MLS Cup will soon be decided.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 2:10 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

While the Messi era has brought Miami a Supporters' Shield and Leagues Cup trophy, this is one number that the Herons are trying to change, and the Vancouver Whitecaps will stand in their way of doing that. Neither Miami nor Vancouver have won the MLS Cup before, but that doesn't mean Miami won't have enough experience to get them through the match in front of their home fans. Looking to not only send Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets into retirement on a high note, but also close out Chase Stadium with a trophy, all of the pressure will be on the Herons to get the job done. 

That's part of why the playoffs have had a different intensity for them. Last season's first round exit to Atlanta United is firmly in the past, but this season also isn't a successful one without a trophy. Just having Messi in the side raises expectations for Inter Miami above what has ever been expected from any MLS side, and they can reach those, but not winning MLS Cup will only bring more questions to the side.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 1:58 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

To have so many goal involvements, a player needs to be consistent, and of course, Messi has done just that. You have to go back to September 30, facing the Chicago Fire, to find he last time that Messi hasn't been involved in a goal. Since then, he has had 11 goals and has 12 assists. Quite some balance, but in the 32 MLS matches that Messi has featured in this season, including the playoffs, he has only failed to register a goal contribution in five matches. Miami has also failed to win any of those matches, losing four and drawing one. So it's simple: if Vancouver stop Messi, they can win the match. Just, statistics say that it'll be quite hard to do. New York City FC did what they could to contain the Argentine, and he still found a way to influence the match while others stepped up around him.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 1:51 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Busquests and Alba start the final matches of their storied careers, but Luis Suarez will begin the clash on the bench as young Mateo Silvetti has enjoyed a breakout during these playoffs that he'll look to close on a high note.

[Dec 6, 2025 at 1:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 6 | Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Chase Stadium -- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• TV: FOX | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
• Odds: Inter Miami -145; Draw +320; Vancouver Whitecaps +310

[Dec 6, 2025 at 1:39 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Happy MLS Cup day. No team has scored more goals during these playoffs than Inter Miami's 17, so it should come as no surprise that they have the leading scorer in Tadeo Allende and the leading assister in Lionel Messi, but Jesper Sorensen's Whitecaps have had an answer for everything in their path so far. It will be Vancouver's biggest test of the playoffs, and they have experience facing Miami from knocking them out of the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier in the season, but this match will be one where everything is left on the pitch, as only one can lift the MLS Cup trophy.