Lionel Messi has sweetened his legendary trophy collection by winning the MLS Supporters Shield. The Argentine superstar and World Cup champion scored twice in Inter Miami’s 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew, the reigning MLS Cup champions. This achievement marks Messi’s 46th major trophy at both the club and international levels, further cementing his status as the football player with the most titles in history.
Key contributions to the victory
Messi’s two goals, scored in the latter part of the first half, along with a crucial penalty save by goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 84th minute, secured the win for Miami. Luis Suarez also played a vital role in Inter Miami’s success by adding to the scoreline.
Players with most trophies in football
| Player | Country | Career Trophies |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 46 |
| Dani Alves | Brazil | 44 |
| Hossam Ashour | Egypt | 39 |
| Andres Iniesta | Spain | 37 |
| Maxwell Scherrer | Brazil | 37 |
| Ryan Giggs | Wales | 36 |
Significance of the Supporters Shield
The Supporters Shield is awarded to the team with the best performance during the regular season. This victory is Messi’s second trophy with Inter Miami, following the League Cup triumph that the Herons secured shortly after his arrival in 2023. With this win, Inter Miami has guaranteed home-field advantage for the playoffs, which will begin in the last weekend of October with a best-of-three first-round series.
Looking ahead to the playoffs
If the team wins that series, they will have the opportunity to host every match for the remainder of the season. This includes an Eastern Conference semifinal scheduled for November 23 or 24, the Eastern final on November 30 or December 1, and the MLS Cup final on December 7.
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