Lionel Messi shows off Inter Miami’s FIRST Trophy before Nashville match: Herons toast Leagues Cup win with fans amid nine-game unbeaten streak since World Cup champion’s arrival

Inter Miami unveiled its first trophy ahead of Wednesday’s MLS game against visiting Nashville, whom the Herons beat on penalties on August 19 to clinch the Leagues Cup title.

Lionel Messi & Co. shared this moment with the growing number of Herons fans, many of whom have jumped on the bandwagon during the team’s nine-match unbeaten run. The Argentine World Cup champion scored 11 goals against that team, making Inter Miami one of the biggest draws in American sports.

The seven-time Ballon d’or winner held the trophy alongside DeAndre Yedlin, the veteran right-back who was the team’s most recognizable player before the arrival of Messi.

The ceremony and accompanying fireworks didn’t last long, but the Miami crowd — including boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. — seemed to enjoy the moment.

As the cup went up and fans longed for more action, attention soon turned to Messi’s second MLS match.

Lionel Messi and DeAndre Yedlin (right) were chosen to raise the Leagues Cup on Wednesday

Suffice it to say that Messi is responsible for this moment. When Inter Miami started the League Cup it was a mess after sacking Phil Neville and only just getting the wheels turning with Tata Martino.

But the arrival of Lionel Messi – as well as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba – provided this team with the much-needed injection of talent to take them to the next level.

This was proven in the first group match against Cruz Azul – where none of the ‘Barcelona three’ started the match.

But when Messi and Busquets were substituted – and Miami led 1-0 thanks to Robert Taylor – there immediately seemed to be an improvement in quality.

It was Messi who broke the deadlock with Cruz Azul with a superb stoppage-time free kick to win the game and get the ball rolling.

Messi came off the bench in the first match to score the match winner against Cruz Azul

Messi proved he was here to dominate by scoring four goals in two games early in the cup

Messi proved victory was no fluke, scoring back-to-back braces in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United and a 3-1 win over rivals Orlando City in the Round of 32.

Then came what was arguably the biggest thriller of the entire tournament: a 4-4 cracker of a game where Messi scored first but Dallas took control.

Trailing 3-1, it seemed hopeless for Inter Miami. A goal from Benjamin Cremaschi cut the deficit to one, but only for a brief second before Robert Taylor scored an own goal.

But with ten minutes left in normal time, Messi stepped up and did what he does best: score from free kicks. The first was a forced foul by Dallas’ Marco Farfan, who headed a Messi free-kick into his own net. The second was a sublime effort that tied the match.

On penalties, a miss by Dallas’ Paxton Pomykal was the only mistake that sent Miami to the quarterfinals.

In the Round of 16, Messi got back on his feet and hit a free kick against Dallas to force pins

After making it through the quarter and semifinals, Miami defeated Nashville to win the trophy

Both the quarterfinals and semifinals were not exciting matches for Miami as they beat Charlotte 4-0 and then Philadelphia 4-1 to meet Nashville in the final.

Again, Messi scored the first goal for Inter Miami, but Nashville countered with Fafa Picault.

Again sanctions were needed. This time it was down to the goalkeepers, where Miami shot-stopper Drake Callender scored and then saved to secure the title.

It was only a matter of weeks, but Messi had already bagged some silverware for his new club. Today he celebrated that achievement as he looks forward to more in the near and distant future.