No trophy for Thomas Muller and Vancouver Whitecaps: Lionel Messi’s late 2025 MLS Cup spark for Inter Miami caps Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba’s memorable send-off

That wraps up our live coverage of the 2025 MLS Cup Final between Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps. With two assists from Lionel Messi in the last quarter, Inter Miami beat Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 to cap a memorable end to the year 2025 and win its first MLS Cup. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of soccer games!

That concludes it!! Inter Miami has won the 2025 MLS Cup!!

As the referee blows the final whistle, Busquets gets the last touch on the ball, and the whole Miami squad celebrates wildly. What a fitting farewell for Alba and Busquets, and what an incredible performance from Messi, who didn't score but managed to add two more assists to his final tally.

Inter Miami goalkeeper Rocco Novo Rios gets booked, while on the other side of the pitch, Vancouver's Sebastian Berhalter also receives a yellow card.

Allende scores the game-winning goal for Inter Miami to win the MLS Cup!!!

The Whitecaps were taken off guard as Messi skillfully chested and lobbed a long ball from Alba onto Allende's run!

At the same time, Laborda also receives a yellow card for a late tackle that stopped Segovia's run.

Rodrigo De Paul receives a yellow card after landing an elbow on Berhalter. As he smiles at his opponent, the Argentine doesn't seem too upset about it either.

Yannick Bright comes in as a substitute for Mateo Silvetti.

Andres Cubas takes his revenge on Messi—albeit in an unlawful manner—for giving up possession, which led to Miami's second goal. He arrived much too late, plunging in to make a terrible tackle on Messi and get a well-deserved yellow card.

What a rollercoaster clash! Just 10 minutes after Vancouver had a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go ahead, Inter Miami has now taken back the lead through Rodrigo De Paul!

Messi stole the ball from Cubas and then set up De Paul with a spectacular through pass just as Miami's counter-attack seemed to be coming to a close. In a counterattack against the trend of play, the midfielder calmly finished into the far corner!

Joedrick Pupe and Ryan Gauld replace Ali Ahmed and Ralph Priso, respectively, as head coach Jesper Sorensen makes the first substitutes of the match for Vancouver. Thomas Muller, Brian White, and Gauld are all out there together for the first time this season.

Vancouver hit three consecutive posts! In a flash, Ali Ahmed races past the Inter Miami defense and slams a ferocious shot from the outside of the penalty area that goes off the crossbar, off the crossbar, and into the opposite post!

Then, just as Vancouver is about to pounce on the rebound, a scramble occurs at the goalpost, and Maxi Falcon clumsily hacks the ball away once again with assistance from the crossbar!

And just like that, Inter Miami is punished for not scoring earlier! 

Sabbi plays it to White as the Canadians construct wonderfully from the right. Ahmed receives the ball from the forward, who rolls it into his path. Despite receiving a strong touch from Rios Novo, Ali Ahmed's thunderous first-time effort reaches the back of the goal!

Inter Miami makes its first substitution of the evening by introducing Telasco Segovia. Baltasar Rodriguez, who is already on a yellow, is out.

Inter Miami had a golden opportunity to extend its advantage, but Messi missed the target with a flying header!

Even though Takaoka blocks Jordi Alba's speculative cross into the penalty area, the ball eventually falls to Lionel Messi, who is well-positioned to score from 13 yards out. Even with the Vancouver goalie down on the ground, the Argentine heads the ball towards the open net, but it goes just wide!

Maxi Falcon, who was outpaced in terms of speed, rams past Ali Ahmed at the height of the penalty area! While Ahmed was attempting to cling onto a terrific one-two from the left, Falcon was booked for his tackle.

Inter Miami is leading 1-0 against Vancouver Whitecaps after the first 45 minutes! Neither side has made any changes at halftime.

Inter Miami is leading 1-0 against Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup Final. Miami took the lead as early as the eighth minute.

Since then, both teams have had good scoring opportunities, but neither has been able to convert any of them.

After forcefully rushing past Baltasar Rodriguez on the wing, Edier Ocampo justifiably receives a yellow card. Ocampo glanced up at Rodriguez after he had already thrown the ball and flung a shoulder on the run.

Sabbi completely missed that! That was the game's finest opportunity, yet it was wasted. Ocampo plays the ball into the area again after a miscommunication from Berhalter's corner. Sabbi was set up by a beautiful cushioned header, but his attempt from close range hits Rios Novo's arm.

Now that Vancouver has the ball in their possession, it is attempting to advance the game, but it has become really rough. Since the Miami player is already on a yellow card, Rodriguez is fortunate that the referee did not consider the latest foul on the flanks to be severe enough to warrant a red card.

Quickly after Messi's hazardous free-kick that went right into the goalkeeper's arms, Vancouver launched a rapid counterattack. Baltasar challenges Sabbi, causing him to fall down, but the referee and video assistant referee both determine that the two players barely made contact.

After pushing Maxi Falcon in the chest, Brian White has now been given a yellow card.

Baltasar Rodriguez receives the first yellow card of the game after a string of dubious challenges. After Tristan Blackmon races ahead of an Inter Miami player to collide with him, Rodriguez intervenes just as the USMNT has released the ball to Sebastian Berhalter.

Edier Ocampo of Vancouver scores an unfortunate own goal, giving Miami an early lead. The Vancouver goalkeeper, Yohei Takaoka, misses Tadeo Allende's cross, which the defender attempts to divert. The ball goes into the net!

Chase Stadium is set to host a historic farewell as it welcomes the 2025 MLS Cup Final, where Inter Miami will face the Vancouver Whitecaps. The city of Miami has embraced Lionel Messi as a symbol, and hopes to reward him with a triumphant send-off in what is arguably the biggest sporting moment in the club’s history.

The atmosphere promises to be electric, adding pressure on the visitors but also demanding composure from the home side as they chase their first MLS Cup. Adding to the drama, Messi will face Thomas Muller, creating a legendary showdown and a fitting final chapter for the stadium before the team moves to Miami Freedom Park in 2026.

Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps have met just three times in their history, with Vancouver holding the upper hand across those encounters. The Whitecaps eliminated Miami from the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals, winning both legs and securing their spot in the final. Their only MLS meeting came in May 2024 at BC Place, where the Herons earned a 2-1 victory.

Across the three matchups, Vancouver has scored six goals to Miami’s three, giving the Canadian side a clear historical edge heading into their next showdown tonight.

Inter Miami confirmed XI: Ríos Novo; Fray, Falcón, Allen, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Silvetti, De Paul, Rodríguez; Allende, Leo Messi.

Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed XI: Takaoka; Ocampo, Blackmon, Priso, Laborda; Berhalter, Cubas; Sabbi, Thomas Muller, Ahmed; White.

Welcome to our live coverage of the match between Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup Final. Stay tuned for key updates, highlights, and live, minute-by-minute action!