Lionel Messi shares heartfelt message to Inter Miami, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba after MLS Cup win

Lionel Messi closed InterMiami‘S 2025 MLS Cup triumph with a thrilling 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, completing a remarkable cycle that began when he joined the Herons in 2023. Messi shared a heartfelt message Sergio BusquetsJordi Alba and the entire Inter Miami family.

The MLS Cup not just concluded Inter Miami’s second-ever postseason appearance, but also delivered the franchise’s first league titlejust a year after their disappointing departure in 2024 at the hands of Atlanta United. Saturday’s match also marked the final chapter for Spanish veterans Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who retired on good terms after helping transform the club.

After the celebration, Messi shared a post on Instagram reflecting on his time in Miami: “WE ARE MLS CHAMPIONS!!! Since I came in MiamiI dreamed of this day. Little by little we kept growing, improving and building something special until we reached this championship. Thank you to my family and all the fans for the support, and to the entire team, staff and leadership of Inter Miami for the ambition and hard work they have put in.”

In a post showcasing moments from the match and celebrations, the captain also honored his old former Barcelona teammates with an emotional farewell. “And thank you, Busi and Jordyfor joining me on this adventure and completing it in the best way. I’m also very happy to share this with you,he concluded.

Jordi Alba ends his career with 103 games, 15 goals and 33 assists for Inter Miami, while Sergio Busquets finishes with 116 games, 1 goal and 16 assistsboth of whom became part of the select group of players who reached 100 appearances for the Herons. Their presence as leaders and elite talents will be difficult to replace, but for now the Spanish legends will enjoy this championship before starting a new chapter in their lives.

Lionel Messi, Busquets and Rodrigo De Paul form an exclusive MLS club

Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets have collected dozens of trophies between them, first with FC Barcelona and now with Inter Miami, setting new standards in their short but dominant run in MLS. Now, alongside Rodrigo De Paul, the trio of the Herons have formed a new and exclusive group of elite players in the history of the competition.

On Saturday, Messi, De Paul and Busquets became the first players ever to win both the MLS Cup and the FIFA World Cup. If Vancouver had won, Thomas Muller would have become the sole member of that club, but instead the Inter Miami trio now stands alone as the only players to lift MLS’s biggest trophy and also soccer’s greatest honor as world champions.