Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF have lifted the club's first-ever Supporters' Shield, accomplishing the "first objective" of their 2024 MLS season.
Messi, whose first-half brace guided the Herons to Wednesday's 3-2 title-clinching win at the Columbus Crew, praised the team's table-topping regular-season campaign that ranked best among all clubs this year.
“I’m happy, happy for the group," Messi said in Spanish during a post-match interview with MLS Season Pass analyst Diego Valeri. "We knew we had a group to fight for this and we made sure of it from the beginning.
"We have the players to do it and I’m honestly happy to achieve the first objective. Now we'll think about what's next."
Revenge in Columbus
Less than two months after a 3-2 loss at Columbus that sent them packing from the Leagues Cup Round of 16, Miami gave a vastly improved performance thanks to Messi – who missed that summer showdown due to an ankle injury picked in the Copa América 2024 final with champions Argentina – and a decisive header from fellow ex-FC Barcelona legend Luis Suárez.
"Today’s opponent was very tough, we knew it. They’re the defending champions, the Leagues Cup champions, they reached another final. It’s a great team, a team that works well," Messi said of the Crew, who could've earned at least a tie despite going down a man in the 63rd minute on Rudy Camacho's sending off for a second yellow card offense.
However, goalkeeper Drake Callender saved Cucho Hernández's potential tying penalty kick six minutes from time to preserve the Miami win.
"We suffered when they went down a man, we suffered until the end," Messi said. "It shows what this team is about."
Messi's impact
With the Supporters' Shield, Messi has won two trophies with Miami since his mid-2023 arrival kicked off a memorable run to that year's Leagues Cup title. The iconic No. 10 now has a world-record 46 trophies spanning club and country.
"The idea was clear: We wanted to be the protagonists from the beginning, have the ball, go after opponents with our game," Messi said. "And then some important players arrived – that helped the team grow even more in terms of our play, our personality, to compete. We try to compete in every game."
The Herons were the league's best team in 2024 despite Messi's three-month-plus absence over the summer due to national team commitments and injury.
"Like I said not too long ago, we competed very well in Leagues Cup, but many players were also missing," Messi said. "Throughout the year, we had a lot of injuries. We almost never were able to be together because one thing or another.
"And the group won some tough games. During Copa América, I think I missed five games, and we faced tough opponents who were at the top of the standings, and the results were very positive. That shows what this team is about."
MLS Cup next?
Messi, who has 17g/15a in just 17 appearances this season, can also lead the Herons to a historic MLS single-season point total. Miami have 68 points with two matches remaining, five shy of the 2021 New England Revolution's best-ever 73 points.
However, the GOAT is more interested in adding an MLS Cup title to his legacy and Miami's trophy case.
"I think the [points] record is secondary," he said. "While we have a beautiful opportunity to make history, I think that’s the least of our concerns."
Miami will host an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs game for the first time in club history when they face the East Wild Card winner (No. 8 and No. 9 seeds). Their Round One Best-of-3 Series awaits in late October, with the full postseason schedule announced at a later date.
By winning the Shield, Miami have also clinched home-field advantage through MLS Cup on Dec. 7 – should they advance that far.
"The first objective is accomplished. And now we’ll think about what’s coming," Messi said. "The first [Round One] is best of three, but then it’s one game [single elimination]. Anything can happen in a game.
"But we have a great advantage in that we’ll be playing all those games at home, which is what we were looking for," Messi said. "I think we’re very strong playing at home. Playing away at any MLS stadium isn’t easy. And I think that playing at home gives us a big advantage. Now, we have to prove it."
