Overview
- Lionel Messi set up Rodrigo De Paul’s 71st‑minute winner and Tadeo Allende’s stoppage‑time clincher after an eighth‑minute Édier Ocampo own goal and Ali Ahmed’s 60th‑minute equalizer.
- The Argentine forward earned MLS Cup MVP honors for a two‑assist display that decided the club’s first league title.
- First‑year head coach Javier Mascherano lifted his debut trophy in charge, capping Miami’s rise since Messi’s 2023 arrival and titles in Leagues Cup 2023 and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield.
- Vancouver controlled about 65% possession and saw Emmanuel Sabbi hit both posts at 1-1, yet errors in transition proved costly despite a breakout season with the West title and Canadian Championship.
- The final at Fort Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium closed the careers of Alba and Busquets, who retired after the match.