Lionel Messi’s goals help Inter Miami win the Supporters’ Shield

Inter Miami secured the 2024 Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night at Lower.com Field in Ohio.

Lionel Messi scored twice and Luis Suárez added a goal, allowing Miami to maintain its win after the Crew’s Rudy Camacho was sent off in the 63rd minute. Miami keeper Drake Callender saved a penalty from Cucho Hernández shortly before the end and secured the three points for his team.

The Herons secured the trophy with 68 points in 32 games, winning the Major League Soccer title for the first time since their debut as an expansion franchise in 2020.

Inter Miami claimed their first League Cup title of 2023, but had previously been unsuccessful in MLS.

The team enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2024 due to the contributions of Messi and Suárez in their first full seasons in Florida. Together, the two strikers were responsible for 35 of the 72 goals the team scored in 31 games.

Despite Messi being sidelined due to injury and international duty, the Argentine captain leads Inter Miami in assists and goal contributions in just 16 games played.

The 2024 Supporters’ Shield is Messi’s second trophy with the club and the 46th title of his career.

His long list of achievements includes ten LaLiga trophies, four Champions League triumphs, two Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Supporters’ Shield is one of two major trophies in MLS, along with the MLS Cup, and is awarded to the team with the best overall regular season record to reward consistency throughout the 34-game season.

Sixteen different MLS teams have worn the Supporters’ Shield, with LA Galaxy and DC United leading the way with four titles each.

By winning the Shield, Inter Miami secured home field advantage in the MLS playoffs.

Inter Miami also remains on track to break the league’s record for most points scored in the regular season. The New England Revolution holds the record after amassing 73 points in the 2021 season, but Inter Miami could still surpass that number with two games remaining.

Should Miami defeat Toronto FC on October 5th and the New England Revolution on October 19th, the team would reach a total of 74 points and set the new record.