In a stunning display of teamwork and resilience, the Seattle Sounders defeated Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 3-0 on Sunday to lift the Leagues Cup at a record-breaking crowd at Lumen Field. Osaze De Rosario opened the scoring in the 26th minute, followed by a second-half penalty from Alex Roldan, and Paul Rothrock sealed the win late in the 89th minute. Seattle’s defense successfully neutralized Miami’s star-studded attack, including Messi, leaving the visitors frustrated as officials had to intervene to prevent post-match altercations.
“𝑾𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒛𝒆𝒓.
Sounders Make History With North American Treble
With this victory, Seattle became the first MLS team to claim every major North American trophy, adding the Leagues Cup to their already impressive haul: two MLS Cups, an MLS Supporters’ Shield, four US Open Cups, and a CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The match was witnessed by 69,314 fans, a record for both a Leagues Cup game and a Seattle home fixture, surpassing the previous high of 69,274 during the 2019 MLS Cup final against Toronto.
Key Moments and Tactical Mastery
De Rosario’s header in the 26th minute, assisted by Roldan, gave the Sounders an early lead. Seattle’s defense, led by Jackson Ragen and Obed Vargas, repeatedly stifled Inter Miami’s attack. Messi and Rodrigo De Paul were denied opportunities, with Ragen blocking a crucial chance in the 19th minute and another during a chaotic corner in the 31st.
Despite Miami finding brief momentum in the second half, including missed chances from Messi and Tadeo Allende, Seattle maintained control. Roldan’s penalty in the 84th minute followed by Rothrock’s late strike sealed the emphatic victory.
“𝑾𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑶𝒔𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝑫𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉.
The triumph not only secured the Leagues Cup for the Sounders but also earned them direct entry to the round of 16 in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, keeping them on track for potential 2029 FIFA Club World Cup qualification.
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