Seattle Sounders shocked Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami with a 3-0 victory on Sunday night to clinch the Leagues Cup, a final overshadowed by a post-match brawl.
Osaze De Rosario struck first in the 26th minute before Alex Roldan converted a late penalty. Paul Rothrock sealed the win with an 89th-minute effort that left the packed crowd of 69,314 at Lumen Field in wild celebration.
Messi and his star-studded teammates struggled to find a breakthrough, with Seattle’s defence blocking multiple efforts, including two key chances from the Argentine in the first half.
“It’s a lot,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “It’s against one of the best teams in our league, in the world, with Messi the best player in the world.”
Tensions boiled over at the final whistle when Luis Suarez confronted Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas. The altercation escalated, with Suarez caught on camera appearing to spit towards a Sounders assistant coach. Match officials and security had to intervene before Seattle could lift their first Leagues Cup trophy.
For De Rosario, the night was unforgettable. “What’s going through my mind right now? It’s crazy, it’s a dream come true, I beat Messi in a final!” he told reporters.
The victory made Seattle the first Major League Soccer side to secure every major North American trophy, adding to their two MLS Cups, four US Open Cups, one Supporters Shield and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Schmetzer praised his players’ resilience. “At 1-0 the game could have gone either way. They were putting a lot of pressure on us. But we played smart, kept our composure, and that’s why we won.”
Both finalists had already booked their spots in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Seattle’s win guarantees them direct passage to the round of 16 in the continental competition, which also serves as a pathway to the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.
Elsewhere, LA Galaxy defeated Orlando City 2-1 in Los Angeles to secure third place and a Champions Cup ticket.
