MLS Season Review: Inter Miami Claim Supporters Shield

MLS Season Review: Inter Miami Claim Supporters Shield

Inter Miami have claimed the 2025 MLS Supporters Shield, finishing the regular season with the best record in Major League Soccer. The Florida club, who are managed by Gerardo Martino, amassed 71 points in 34 matches, a remarkable achievement that reflects the quality of the squad that the club has assembled in recent years. The Supporters Shield is the second major piece of silverware that Inter Miami have won in the last 12 months, following their Leagues Cup triumph in 2024, and it is a testament to the work that has been done by Martino and the club hierarchy.

Inter Miami have claimed the Supporters Shield

Inter Miami campaign has been built around the brilliance of Lionel Messi, who has been in superb form throughout the season. The Argentine, who joined the club in 2023, has scored 24 goals and provided 16 assists in 28 appearances, a remarkable return for a player in his late 30s. Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup in 2022 and the Copa America in 2024, has been a transformative figure for the Florida club, and his presence has helped to raise the profile of the league on a global scale. The eight-time Ballon d Or winner is now widely regarded as the best player in the history of the sport, and his performances this season have only enhanced that reputation.

Supporting Cast

Beyond Messi, Inter Miami have a number of other talented players who have contributed to the clubs success. Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan striker, has scored 19 goals in 32 appearances, while Sergio Busquets, the veteran Spanish midfielder, has provided the experience and composure in the middle of the park. Jordi Alba, the former Barcelona left-back, has also been in excellent form, providing the creativity and defensive solidity down the left flank. The quartet, all of whom played under Guardiola at Barcelona, have formed a formidable unit, and their understanding has been a key factor in the club recent success.

Messi has been in superb form for Inter Miami

Beyond Inter Miami, the 2025 MLS season has also seen a number of other clubs make their mark. FC Cincinnati, who finished second in the Eastern Conference, have enjoyed a remarkable campaign under the management of Pat Noonan. The Ohio club, who have been one of the most improved sides in the league in recent years, will be aiming to make a deep run in the playoffs, with Luciano Acosta, the Argentine midfielder, providing the creativity that drives the team forward. LAFC, the defending MLS Cup champions, finished third in the Western Conference, and they will be looking to defend their title.

New Stars Emerge

The 2025 MLS season has also seen a number of new stars emerge. Diego Luna, the 21-year-old midfielder who plays for Real Salt Lake, has been one of the breakout stars of the season, scoring 14 goals and providing 9 assists in 31 appearances. The American international, who is regarded as one of the most exciting young players in the country, has been in superb form, and there is a growing sense that he is destined for a move to a top European club. Other young players to watch include Cade Cowell, the San Jose Earthquakes winger, and Brian Gutierrez, the Chicago Fire midfielder.

Diego Luna has been one of the breakout stars of the season

The influx of international stars has also continued in 2025. Marco Asensio, the Spanish forward who joined Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, has been in excellent form, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances. The 29-year-old, who won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2018, has been a key figure in the Inter Miami side, and his arrival has helped to ease the burden on Messi. Other notable signings include Sergio Ramos, the veteran Spanish defender who joined Inter Miami in the summer, and Hugo Lloris, the former France and Tottenham goalkeeper who joined LAFC in the same transfer window.

Playoffs Format

The 2025 MLS Cup playoffs will feature 18 teams - the top 9 from each conference. The first round will be a single-elimination match between the 8th and 9th seeds in each conference, with the winners advancing to face the top seed in the first round of the conference playoffs. The conference semifinals and finals will be single-elimination matches, with the higher seed hosting. The MLS Cup final, which will take place on December 6, will be hosted by the higher seed in the conference final. The format is designed to reward the top regular-season performers, with the Supporters Shield winners receiving a bye through the first round.

The MLS Cup playoffs will feature 18 teams

The playoffs are likely to be fiercely contested, with several teams in contention for the MLS Cup. Inter Miami, who have been the dominant force throughout the regular season, are the favourites, but there are several other teams who could cause an upset. FC Cincinnati, LAFC, and the Columbus Crew are all in contention, and the playoffs are likely to provide plenty of drama. The presence of Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba in the Inter Miami squad makes them the team to beat, but the playoffs are a different competition, and anything can happen.