06 septembre, 2023

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami champions of the Leagues Cup!

The first trophy in the club's history

Lionel Messi has earned a new championship with Inter Miami! They won 10-9 on penalties after 1-1 in the 90 minutes and became champions in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Lionel Messi scored one of his signature goals to lead Inter Miami to a 10-9 penalty shootout victory over Nashville FC to win the championship.

With both clubs playing for their first trophy since joining MLS in 2020, it was Inter Miam i captain Lionel Messi who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, with a sensational left-footed shot past a wall of defenders and entered into the top left corner, a goal that put the team up 1-0 at Geodis Park in Tennessee.

In the second half, Nashville tied the game thanks to a goal by Fafá Picault. The game ran into regulation time in a tie, so it was necessary to go to a penalty shootout. Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were the first to score for their team. After six additional shots from both teams, it was Inter Miami who emerged victorious.

Although Inter Miami sits last in the MLS standings, the club has seen a big turnaround since 2022 World Cup winner Messi joined the team in June. After scoring an astonishing game-winner on his debut, the team has gone unbeaten, winning a club-record seven straight MLS games, culminating in a Leagues Cup victory. On their way to their first title of the club, Inter Miami won four of their seven matches in the tournament by multiple goals.

Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, finished the tournament with 10 goals in seven games since he joined the team. On an individual level, with the victory in the Leagues Cup, Messi captured the 44th trophy of his career, becoming the most awarded male soccer player in the history of the sport.