Another year, another trophy for Lionel Messi. With two goals in a 3-2 victory over the defending MLS Cup champions, Columbus Crew, on Wednesday, Inter Miami's global superstar secured the MLS's Supporters' Shield – awarded annually to the team with the best regular season record. This marks the 39th club trophy in Messi's illustrious career, making it seem like just another day at the office. However, this title might be one of his most unexpected club triumphs to date.
Most of Messi's significant moments in MLS have been about validating the league's ambitions. While MLS is still far from being recognized as one of the world's elite competitions, Messi's arrival has brought tangible improvements. His pink Inter Miami jersey is Adidas' top-selling soccer jersey globally, a remarkable feat for a kit featuring an MLS logo. More accomplished foreign players are now joining the league, and major European clubs are increasingly scouting in MLS for talent.
Messi's presence also boosted MLS's unique 10-year media rights partnership with Apple, which places most games behind a paywall. Seeing the greatest player of all time play is a strong incentive for fans to subscribe. His memorable Leagues Cup debut and subsequent win in the final added credibility to a new competition co-promoted by MLS and Liga MX, despite the additional strain on team schedules.
This Supporters' Shield is different. It's an MLS original, rooted in the league's early fan culture. Messi and Miami didn't just win a league title; they inscribed their names into US soccer history and one of MLS's oldest symbols of success. The Shield's existence is a testament to a grassroots movement far removed from Messi's global fame. Originally conceived by supporters, the trophy recognizes the team with the most points at the end of the season, mirroring other domestic leagues worldwide.
The original shield was crafted by a Kansas University art student for a few thousand dollars. It has since been replaced but is typically passed between fan organizations rather than club officials. Wednesday's handover was unusual: Since Inter Miami's supporters' groups aren't registered with the Independent Supporters' Council (ISC), fans of 2023 winners FC Cincinnati drove to Columbus to deliver the Shield to Inter Miami's locker room.
Despite Messi's involvement, the shield exchange lacked the usual fanfare. Inter Miami won't add a star above their crest or be known as the 2024 league champion. The Shield isn't an absolute measure of a team's strength due to the league's size and unbalanced schedule. However, it's a solid indicator of which team was the best over the season. Winning it so soon after Messi's arrival is a significant achievement.
Miami's turnaround is remarkable. Last year, they missed the playoffs and were at the bottom when Messi joined. Their success isn't solely due to Messi; the team quickly gelled and played well with and without him. Messi missed 15 games due to injury but still scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists in 17 appearances. Miami averaged 2.12 points per game with him and 2.13 without him.
This success reflects the team's overall performance. Luis Suárez scored crucial goals, while Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets elevated the team's play. Young additions like Federico Redondo boosted the team's potential. Defenders and goalkeeper Drake Callender made key saves, including a penalty stop in Wednesday's game.
The Shield win also highlights head coach Tata Martino's impact. He rebuilt the team while teaching them to play, sometimes without their captain. Half of Inter Miami's roster turned over, including key players like Gregore, DeAndre Yedlin, and Kamal Miller.
Supporters' Shield winners aren't often remembered unless they also win the MLS Cup, a feat achieved by only four Shield winners in the last 20 years. If Inter Miami wins both, Messi lifting the Philip F Anschutz Trophy in Fort Lauderdale would overshadow everything, especially if it's his last act in the US. If they exit the playoffs early, the Shield will still stand as a testament to their MLS greatness.
