Excited and euphoric, Inter Miami players celebrated Saturday the “gift” they have given their fans and captain Lionel Messi by becoming MLS Eastern Conference champions and qualifying for next Saturday’s national final.
“This is the first time in my life that I have lifted a Cup and to be able to do it with Messi is more than an honor,” Argentine winger Tadeo Allende, the night’s top scorer with three goals, told Efe from the field.
Inter Miami goes to the final
WE ARE EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS. 🏆💫
One down. One to go! pic.twitter.com/tPEXYrTg7i
– Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 30, 2025
“I’m very excited, but now we have to think about what’s next,” added the 26-year-old after beating New York City 5-1 and lifting the MLS Eastern Conference Cup for the first time.
Uruguay’s Maximiliano Falcón and Argentina’s Mateo Silvetti were especially excited that their Spanish teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets could close their careers with the chance to win the MLS Cup.
Full-back Alba and midfielder Busquets said they were delighted to be able to bid farewell by making history.
This is the first time that Inter Miami has reached the MLS final and the first time that Messi has played in a national cup in the United States.
“They were in the locker room talking about how it could be their last game, but Messi spoke to all of us. His words were important for us to focus on,” said Duque, who declared himself “very happy to have made history with them,” whom he has followed since he was a boy.
Argentina’s 19-year-old Silvetti was assisted by his compatriot Messi to score the third goal.
He acknowledged that he “still can’t believe” he could have scored in such an important game.
“I’ve always said it, playing next to him, everything becomes easier and he was able to find me and stretch the win for the next goal. It’s something I’ll never forget again,” he said.
With that pass to Silvetti, Messi set the record for the most assists in history with 405.
He was previously tied with Ferenc Puskas at 404.
The players agreed that, after reaching the Eastern Conference title, the mission does not change.
“There is one game left, which is the hardest and most important,” said Uruguayan defender Maximiliano Falcón.
The purple club is thus one game away from its best season since its founding in 2020 and has consolidated its squad after two years of work.
Allende believes the team is in a perfect position to face the winner of the Western Conference, whose finalists are San Diego FC and Vancouver Whitecaps.
The players also highlighted the support of the public.
The match was played with the animation of drums, vuvuzuelas and pink scarves from the stands.
Inter Miami now has a week to rest and prepare for the final, which will be at home on December 6 at Chase Stadium, located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, 30 kilometers north of Miami.
With information from EFE
