Lionel Messi assisted Rodrigo de Paul in the 71st minute and Tadeo Allende in second-half stoppage time as Inter Miami pulled away to defeat the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 and win their first MLS Cup.

The two plays sealed Miami's third major trophy and first MLS Cup since the club began MLS play in 2020, all of those coming since Messi joined the Herons in 2023.

It also prevented Messi from finishing a season without a major club trophy for the first time since the 2020-21 La Liga season, his last with FC Barcelona.

The 38-year-old Ballon d'Or winner finished the playoffs with six goals and nine assists, registering at least one goal or assist in all six of Miami's playoff matches while easily posting an MLS record for goal contributions in one season.

Messi, de Paul, and Sergio

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