CNN
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Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to its first-ever Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night, winning his second title with the club and his 46th overall.

Messi’s two goals – the first, a close-range finish and the second, a sensational curling free kick – at the end of the first half helped Inter Miami beat the Crew and win the trophy, which is presented to the team with the best overall regular season record.

The Argentine’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez restored the two-goal advantage just after Columbus reduced the lead in the 46th minute through Diego Rossi’s effort, and Miami held on for the win despite Cucho Hernández’s goal later in the second half penalty scored.

“I’m happy. Happy for this group. I think I told you at the beginning of this year that we knew this was a group that would fight for this,” Messi said in a post-match interview with Apple TV.

“We took the lead from the start, we had the players to do it. I am happy to secure the first objective, and we are thinking about the next one,” he added.

The win comes not long after Messi spent more than three months away from action with Miami due to injury and national team duty, returning to the field on September 15. This year he scored 17 goals and 15 assists in just 17 appearances for the club. team.

By finishing atop the regular season standings, Miami secured home field advantage in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The club must win its remaining two league matches if it wants to break the New England Revolution’s MLS record of 73 points set in the 2021 season.

But beyond that, Miami’s sights will certainly be set on the MLS Cup.

“I’m so proud to see our players lift the Supporters Shield after a fantastic win in Columbus,” Miami co-owner and former England international David Beckham wrote on Instagram.

“Another great achievement in the history of this football club and I am so happy to bring this trophy to the best fans in the league. Now we move on and on to the next one.”