Lionel Messi hands Inter Miami second trophy after dethroning champions in MLS thriller

Inter Miami have clinched the Supporters' Shield after Lionel Messi scored a stunning brace in a 3-2 win over MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

The Supporters' Shield, an annual award given to the MLS team with the best regular season record, is the second trophy Miami have won since being founded by David Beckham in January 2018. Messi helped Miami win the Leagues Cup last summer, just one month after his ground-breaking arrival was confirmed.

Miami went into Wednesday's clash needing a win to secure the title, and Messi opened the scoring after 40 minutes before curling a free-kick into the top-left corner just before the break. Columbus hit back within 25 seconds of the restart, as Diego Rossi scored from close range.

Luis Suarez then restored Miami's two-goal cushion, taking advantage of a goalkeeping error to head into an empty net. Columbus were later awarded two penalties which were taken by former Watford striker Cucho Hernandez, converting the first but missing the second as Miami held on to edge one of the greatest regular-season games in MLS history.

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Following the victory, Messi claimed the 46th trophy of his professional career after reaching 29 goals in Miami colours since his move last summer. Miami still have two games remaining in the regular season, allowing manager Tata Martino to rest his star players ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Miami still have fixtures against Toronto FC and New England Revolution before the playoffs begin, and with an international break falling between the two games, it provides heavy respite for Messi, Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. Due to Miami's regular-season standing, they will receive a bye and won't play their first playoff game until October 26.

Finishing top of the Eastern Conference, Miami will host the lowest remaining seed in a best-of-three series in Round 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Those games will take place between Saturday October 26 - Sunday, November 10.

Following Round 1 will be the Conference Semi-Finals and Conference Finals, before the MLS Cup Final takes place on December 7. Miami are the favourites to win it all considering their star-studded squad, but those not in the spotlight also proved themselves this season.

Miami suffered an ankle injury in the final of Copa America this summer and ended up being away from the squad for 105 days, missing nine games. Suarez was also temporarily absent due to commitments with Uruguay, but Miami didn't crumble without their biggest stars.

Of the nine games Messi missed this season, Miami still managed to win eight of them. With a fully recharged Messi for the MLS Cup Playoffs, it could be a historic year for the franchise, although infamously the team that wins the Supporters' Shield rarely goes all the way.