Lionel Messi failed to add another trophy to his glistening cabinet after Inter Miami were thrashed 3-0 by Seattle Sounders in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final.
Miami were looking to win the competition for the second time in three years after their famous 2023 triumph, which came shortly after Messi’s arrival at the club.
Yet the soccer legend was unable to inspire another victory at Seattle’s Lumen Field, where goals from Osaze De Rosario, Alex Roldan and Paul Rothrock earned the Sounders a famous three-goal win over Inter.
De Rosario fired them in front after heading home from close range in the 26th minute, before Roldan scored from the penalty spot six minutes from time when Inter’s Yannick Bright was deemed to have brought down an attacker inside the box.
And to compound Messi and Miami’s misery, five minutes later Rothrock pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area, drove past a defender and tucked the ball into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0.
The victory means Seattle are now the first team in history to win every trophy available to them in North America.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were beaten 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final by Seattle Sounders
The soccer legend was unable to inspire Miami to their second Leagues Cup win in three years
Seattle ran out comfortable winners in the end after proving the much more threatening team
As for Miami, they are still yet to get their hands on silverware since winning the same competition in Messi’s first season two years ago.
Head coach Javier Mascherano will be bitterly disappointed after dominating from a possession standpoint, with his team enjoying 62 percent of the ball in Seattle.
Though despite controlling the game, Inter failed to register a single shot on target in the final.
All 10 efforts at goal from Mascherano’s men were off target, meaning Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas enjoyed a simple night’s work.
The hosts, meanwhile, tested Miami keeper Oscar Ustari on seven occasions aside from their three goals on the night.
Inter were left aggrieved after being denied what they felt was a clear penalty for a handball late in the second half.
However, Seattle were the far more threatening team through Sunday’s final at Lumen Field, which will come as a major concern to Mascherano, Messi and Co when they sit down and reflect on the defeat.
