Lionel Messi and Inter Miami secured the Supporters Shield, the MLS's annual award for the team with the best regular-season record, on Wednesday night, with a 3-2 victory over the reigning champion Columbus Crew. Messi scored twice in the final minutes of the first half, and goalkeeper Drake Callender made a crucial penalty save in the 84th minute to seal the win.
Inter Miami's triumph extended Lionel Messi's record for the most major trophies won by any men's soccer player in history, adding to his impressive tally of 46 titles for club and country. The victory also marked the second trophy for Inter Miami since Messi joined the club in 2023, following the Leagues Cup triumph they claimed shortly after his arrival.
Messi and Inter Miami Claim Supporters Shield, Aim for History
Reflecting on the achievement, Messi expressed his confidence in the team's potential and aspirations for the future. "We knew this was a group that could fight for this," Messi said. "We have a nice opportunity to go down in history... and now we think about what is coming. 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."
With the Supporters Shield victory, Inter Miami will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the Major League Soccer playoffs. The team will open the playoffs with a best-of-three first-round series in the final weekend of October, with the potential to host every remaining match, including the Eastern Conference semifinal, East final, and MLS Cup final in December.
Inter Miami's dominant regular season has not only secured the Supporters Shield but also put them within reach of the MLS's best-ever regular-season mark. After Wednesday's win, the team's record stands at 20-4-8, giving them 68 points. Two more victories in their final two matches would push that total to 74 points, surpassing the previous record of 73 points set by New England in 2021.
Messi opened the scoring for Inter Miami in the 45th minute, receiving a long pass from his former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba and skillfully splitting two Columbus defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Five minutes into stoppage time, Messi struck again with a free kick from 30 yards out, his shot squeezing between Schulte and the near post.
Columbus attempted to fight back in the second half, but Inter Miami held on to their lead. Diego Rossi scored for the Crew in the first minute of the second half, but Luis Suarez quickly restored Inter Miami's two-goal advantage with a header into an empty net. Juan "Cucho" Hernández's penalty kick in the 61st minute gave Columbus some hope, but a red card for Rudy Camacho in the 63rd minute left the Crew with only 10 men.
Despite being a man down, Columbus continued to create chances, but goalkeeper Drake Callender made a crucial block in the 76th minute to keep Inter Miami in front. The game's most dramatic moment came in the 84th minute when Inter Miami was penalized for handball inside the box, resulting in a second penalty kick for Columbus. Hernández stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Callender made a brilliant save to preserve the lead.
Messi's brace in the first half brought his total for the 2024 MLS season to 17 goals in 17 league appearances. He has missed 15 matches this season due to international commitments and a two-month absence to recover from an ankle injury. Despite those setbacks, Inter Miami boasts an impressive 10-1-6 record with Messi in the lineup this season.
Inter Miami's victory on Wednesday cemented their status as the top team in MLS during the regular season. The team's resilience, determination, and Messi's brilliance have put them in a strong position to make history by winning the MLS Cup and completing a remarkable season.
