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Jim Reineking, USA TODAYSun, November 30, 2025 at 1:09 AM UTC·2 min readLionel Messi has delivered Inter Miami to the brink of its first Major League Soccer championship.
Inter Miami defeated New York City FC, 5-1, in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday, Nov. 29. As a result, Inter Miami will play in MLS Cup for the first time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInter Miami will play the winner of the Western Conference final in MLS Cup. Since Inter Miami finished the regular season with a better record than both Western Conference finalists — San Diego FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps — the Herons will host the league's championship game at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday, Dec. 6 (2:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV and FOX).
Columbus Crew 4, FC Cincinnati 0 (Round 1, Game 2): FC Cincinnati's Alvas Powell heads the ball as Columbus goalkeeper Roman Celentano attempts a save during the first half at Lower.com Field on Nov. 2. The win by the Crew evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.
Vancouver Whitecaps 1, FC Dallas 1, Vancouver wins penalty shootout 4-2 (Round 1, Game 2): FC Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi allows a goal during the penalty kick shootout at Toyota Stadium on Nov. 1. Vancouver's win pushed the Whitecaps in the next round of the playoffs.
Portland Timbers 2, San Diego FC 2, Portland wins penalty shootout 3-2 (Round 1, Game 2): The Portland Timbers' Kristoffer Velde celebrates after defeating San Diego FC at Providence Park on Nov. 1. The penalty shootout win evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.
Nashville SC 2, Inter Miami 1 (Round 1, Game 2): Nashville SC's Sam Surridge (9) and Inter Miami's Maximiliano Falcón fight for the ball during the second half at Geodis Park on Nov. 1. Nashville evened up the best-of-three series at one win apiece.
Philadelphia Union 3, Chicago Fire 0 (Round 1, Game 2): The Philadelphia Union's Tai Baribo scores a goal during the first half at SeatGeek Stadium on Nov. 1. Philadelphia won the best-of-three series with the victory.
Charlotte FC 0, New York City FC 0, Charlotte FC wins penalty shootout 7-6 (Round 1, Game 2): NYCFC's Tayvon Gray (left) and Charlotte FC's Wilfried Zaha fight for the ball during the second half at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 1. Charlotte FC's penalty shootout win evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.
Los Angeles FC 2, Austin FC 1 (Round 1, Game 1): LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris punches the ball out on a corner kick during the second half at BMO Stadium on Oct. 29.
New York City FC 1, Charlotte FC 0 (Round 1, Game 1): Charlotte FC's Ashley Westwood has words for New York City FC's Kevin O'Toole during the second half at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 28.
Minnesota United 0, Seattle Sounders 0, Minnesota wins penalty shootout 3-2 (Round 1, Game 1): Minnesota United players celebrate after winning a penalty shootout at Allianz Field on Oct. 27.
FC Cincinnati 1, Columbus Crew 0 (Round 1, Game 1): FC Cincinnati's Ender Echenique celebrates after a goal scored by teammate Kevin Denkey in the second half against the Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium on Oct. 27.
San Diego FC 2, Portland Timbers 1 (Round 1, Game 1): San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer (10) scores on a header during the first half against Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium on Oct. 26.
Vancouver Whitecaps 3, FC Dallas 0 (Round 1, Game 1): Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer punches the ball away for a save at BC Place on Oct. 26.
Philadelphia Union 2, Chicago Fire 2, Union win penalty shootout 4-2 (Round 1, Game 1): The Philadelphia Union's Milan Iloski (32) and Andre Blake have words for Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady (1) during the shootout at Subaru Park on Oct. 26.
Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 1 (Round 1, Game 1): Lionel Messi scores against Nashville SC during the first half at Chase Stadium on Oct. 24. Messi had two goals in the win.
Portland Timbers 3, Real Salt Lake 1 (wild-card match): The Portland Timbers' Felipe Mora (9) and Kamal Miller (4) celebrate after the win at Providence Park on Oct. 22.
Chicago Fire 3, Orlando City 1 (wild-card match): The Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers (9) scores past Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese during the second half at SeatGeek Stadium on Oct. 22.1 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Columbus Crew 4, FC Cincinnati 0 (Round 1, Game 2): FC Cincinnati's Alvas Powell heads the ball as Columbus goalkeeper Roman Celentano attempts a save during the first half at Lower.com Field on Nov. 2. The win by the Crew evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.1 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Columbus Crew 4, FC Cincinnati 0 (Round 1, Game 2): FC Cincinnati's Alvas Powell heads the ball as Columbus goalkeeper Roman Celentano attempts a save during the first half at Lower.com Field on Nov. 2. The win by the Crew evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.2 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Vancouver Whitecaps 1, FC Dallas 1, Vancouver wins penalty shootout 4-2 (Round 1, Game 2): FC Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi allows a goal during the penalty kick shootout at Toyota Stadium on Nov. 1. Vancouver's win pushed the Whitecaps in the next round of the playoffs.3 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Portland Timbers 2, San Diego FC 2, Portland wins penalty shootout 3-2 (Round 1, Game 2): The Portland Timbers' Kristoffer Velde celebrates after defeating San Diego FC at Providence Park on Nov. 1. The penalty shootout win evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.4 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Nashville SC 2, Inter Miami 1 (Round 1, Game 2): Nashville SC's Sam Surridge (9) and Inter Miami's Maximiliano Falcón fight for the ball during the second half at Geodis Park on Nov. 1. Nashville evened up the best-of-three series at one win apiece.5 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Philadelphia Union 3, Chicago Fire 0 (Round 1, Game 2): The Philadelphia Union's Tai Baribo scores a goal during the first half at SeatGeek Stadium on Nov. 1. Philadelphia won the best-of-three series with the victory.6 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Charlotte FC 0, New York City FC 0, Charlotte FC wins penalty shootout 7-6 (Round 1, Game 2): NYCFC's Tayvon Gray (left) and Charlotte FC's Wilfried Zaha fight for the ball during the second half at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 1. Charlotte FC's penalty shootout win evened up the best-of-three series at a game apiece.
7 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Los Angeles FC 2, Austin FC 1 (Round 1, Game 1): LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris punches the ball out on a corner kick during the second half at BMO Stadium on Oct. 29.8 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
New York City FC 1, Charlotte FC 0 (Round 1, Game 1): Charlotte FC's Ashley Westwood has words for New York City FC's Kevin O'Toole during the second half at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 28.9 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Minnesota United 0, Seattle Sounders 0, Minnesota wins penalty shootout 3-2 (Round 1, Game 1): Minnesota United players celebrate after winning a penalty shootout at Allianz Field on Oct. 27.10 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
FC Cincinnati 1, Columbus Crew 0 (Round 1, Game 1): FC Cincinnati's Ender Echenique celebrates after a goal scored by teammate Kevin Denkey in the second half against the Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium on Oct. 27.11 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
San Diego FC 2, Portland Timbers 1 (Round 1, Game 1): San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer (10) scores on a header during the first half against Portland Timbers at Snapdragon Stadium on Oct. 26.12 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Vancouver Whitecaps 3, FC Dallas 0 (Round 1, Game 1): Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer punches the ball away for a save at BC Place on Oct. 26.13 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Philadelphia Union 2, Chicago Fire 2, Union win penalty shootout 4-2 (Round 1, Game 1): The Philadelphia Union's Milan Iloski (32) and Andre Blake have words for Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady (1) during the shootout at Subaru Park on Oct. 26.14 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Inter Miami 3, Nashville SC 1 (Round 1, Game 1): Lionel Messi scores against Nashville SC during the first half at Chase Stadium on Oct. 24. Messi had two goals in the win.
15 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Portland Timbers 3, Real Salt Lake 1 (wild-card match): The Portland Timbers' Felipe Mora (9) and Kamal Miller (4) celebrate after the win at Providence Park on Oct. 22.16 / 16Quest for MLS Cup: The defining moments from the MLS playoffs
Chicago Fire 3, Orlando City 1 (wild-card match): The Chicago Fire's Hugo Cuypers (9) scores past Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese during the second half at SeatGeek Stadium on Oct. 22.Tadeo Allende had a hat trick, scoring the game's first two goals and then the final goal in Inter Miami's impressive victory. Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia added second-half goals for Miami. Messi's assist on Silvetti's goal gave him 13 goal contributions (six goals, seven assists) in Inter Miami's five playoff games this season.
It was an all-in, "Last Dance"-type campaign for Inter Miami. Two of Messi's legendary former FC Barcelona teammates, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, are retiring. Another ex-Barcelona teammate of Messi, Luis Suarez, is not yet under contract for 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or award winner and 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina, he can win his 47th career trophy for club and country if Inter Miami prevails in MLS Cup.
Inter Miami becomes the 20th different club to appear in MLS Cup. In the six-season history of Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, it has won the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 MLS Supporters' Shield. Now, the club is one step away from collecting its grandest prize.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inter Miami, Lionel Messi advance to 2025 MLS Cup
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