Following Inter Miami CF’s 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium, the trio of Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi have become the first players to win both an Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup and FIFA World Cup.
While eight times Ballon d’Or winner, Messi and compatriot, De Paul captured the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, Busquets was a member of the Vicente del Bosque’s side that lifted the trophy with Spain for the only time in South Africa 2010.
It is not surprising therefore that all three players were crucial as Inter Miami raised their first Philip F. Anschutz Trophy in celebration.
Messi was named MLS Cup 2025 MVP presented by Audi for a two-assist performance, including on De Paul’s 71st-minute game-winning goal. Messi and De Paul also helped create the opener, scored by Vancouver defender Édier Ocampo (8′) after a Tadeo Allende cross.
Meanwhile, Busquets went the full 90 minutes in his last professional match. The midfielder planned to retire after the 2025 MLS season, doing so alongside fellow Spain and FC Barcelona legend, Jordi Alba.
Besides the MLS Cup, Busquets and Messi also led the Herons to their first two titles: Leagues Cup 2023 and the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, the latter with an MLS record 74 points (single season).
Sergio Busquets
Midfielder · Inter Miami CF
World Cup: Busquets’ 143 caps are the third-most in Spain history, trailing Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos. He played at four World Cups and started every match at South Africa 2010 as they defeated the Netherlands, 1-0, in the final via Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner.
MLS Season: Busquets led Miami in minutes played during the 2025 campaign, featuring in 56 of their MLS single-season record 58 matches. He notched 10 assists, often orchestrating attacks from a deep-lying position in midfield. In late September, Busquets announced his planned retirement.
Rodrigo De Paul
Midfielder · Inter Miami CF
World Cup: De Paul started all seven of Argentina’s matches at the 2022 World Cup. He went 102 minutes in the final against France and developed a reputation as “Messi’s bodyguard” for protecting La Albiceleste’s captain.
MLS Season: De Paul joined Miami in July on loan from La Liga side, Atlético Madrid and formed a strong midfield partnership with Busquets. His MLS Cup game-winner is among the biggest goals in Miami’s history, and he ended the year with two (2) goals and seven (7) assists in 23 appearances (all competitions).
Lionel Messi
Forward · Inter Miami CF
World Cup: Messi has made 26 World Cup appearances across five separate tournaments. He won the Golden Ball (best player) at Qatar 2022 while finishing with seven (7) goals and three (3) assists, including a brace in the final against France and Kylian Mbappé (3-3 tie; 4-2 Argentina on penalty kicks).
MLS Season: Messi finished the 2025 playoffs with an MLS record 15 goal contributions – six (6) goals and nine (9) assists, following up on his MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi capture with 29 goals and 19 assists. His combined 63 goal contributions across the regular season and playoffs are the most in league history, outpacing LAFC legend Carlos Vela in second place (52; 2019 season). Messi is poised to become the first back-to-back Landon Donovan MLS MVP.
Every MLS And World Cup Champion
Inter Miami’s victory stopped Vancouver star Thomas Müller from becoming the first MLS Cup-World Cup champion from Germany. The Bayern Munich icon, who joined the Whitecaps in August, won the 2014 World Cup with Germany against Messi-led Argentina.
As of the 2025 season, 19 World Cup champions have plied their trade for different clubs in MLS.
Lothar Matthäus – West Germany: 1990 World Cup – Metro Stars: 2000
Branco – Brazil: 1994 World Cup – Metro Stars: 1997
Youri Djorkaeff – France: 1998 World Cup – New York Red Bulls: 2005-06
Thierry Henry – France: 1998 World Cup – New York Red Bulls: 2010-14
Denílson – Brazil: 2002 World Cup – FC Dallas: 2007
Kléberson – Brazil: 2002 World Cup – Philadelphia Union: 2013
Kaká – Brazil: 2002 World Cup – Orlando City: 2015-17
Alessandro Nesta – Italy: 2006 World Cup – Montréal Impact: 2012-13
Andrea Pirlo – Italy: 2006 World Cup – New York City FC: 2015-17
David Villa – Spain: 2010 World Cup – New York City FC: 2015-18
Sergio Busquets – Spain: 2010 World Cup – Inter Miami CF: 2023-25
Bastian Schweinsteiger – Germany: 2014 World Cup – Chicago Fire FC: 2017-19
Thomas Müller – Germany: 2014 World Cup – Vancouver Whitecaps FC: 2025 – Present
Blaise Matuidi – France: 2018 World Cup – Inter Miami CF: 2020-21
Hugo Lloris – France: 2018 World Cup – LAFC: 2024-Present
Olivier Giroud – France: 2018 World Cup – LAFC: 2024-25
Thiago Almada – Argentina: 2022 World Cup – Atlanta United: 2022-24
Lionel Messi – Argentina: 2022 World Cup – Inter Miami CF: 2023-Present
Rodrigo De Paul – Argentina: 2022 World Cup – Inter Miami CF: 2025-Present
– Culled from mlssoccer.com
