Lionel Messi said Inter Miami CF achieved its first goal of the 2024 MLS season after securing the Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night at Lower.com Field in Ohio.

“I’m happy,” Messi said in a post-match interview with Apple TV. “I’m glad we did it. At the start of the year we knew this was a group we had to fight for. We took the lead from the start, we had the players who could do that. I’m happy to have scored the first goal and we’re thinking about the next one.

Messi scored two goals and Luis Suárez added another as Miami held on after the Crew’s Rudy Camacho was sent off in the 63rd minute. Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender saved a penalty from Cucho Hernández in the 84th minute, securing his team the three points.

The Herons secured the trophy with 68 points in 32 games, winning their first MLS silverware since debuting in 2020 as an expansion franchise. Inter Miami claimed their first League Cup title of 2023, but had not won anything in MLS before.

The moment we made history! 🛡️🖤🩷 pic.twitter.com/zRseWXbGTZ

– Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 3, 2024

The team enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2024 due to the contributions of Messi and Suárez in their first full seasons with the team. Together, the strikers were responsible for 35 of the team’s 72 goals in 31 games.

“I think since the arrival of (coach) Gerardo Martino and us (Jordi Alba, Suarez and Sergio Busquets) the idea was clear to be protagonist and chase the ball, have the ball and possession of the ball. Important players came to expand the team.” “We try to be competitive in every game,” said Messi.

Despite Messi being sidelined due to injury and international duty, the Argentina captain leads Inter Miami in assists and goals in just 16 games played.

The 2024 Supporters’ Shield is Messi’s second trophy with the club and the 46th title of his career. His long list of achievements includes ten LaLiga trophies, four Champions League triumphs, two Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“I’ve been here for a year and I’m happy that we were able to win two titles with him,” said Martino.

The Supporters’ Shield is one of two major trophies in MLS, along with the MLS Cup, and is awarded to the team with the best overall regular season record to reward consistency over a 34-game campaign.

Sixteen different MLS teams have won the Supporters’ Shield, with LA Galaxy and DC United leading the way with four each.

By winning the Shield, Inter Miami secured home field advantage in the playoffs.

Inter Miami also remains on track to break the league’s record for most points in a regular season.

The New England Revolution holds the record after amassing 73 points during the 2021 season, but Miami could surpass that number by winning its final two games.