De Paul’s first MLS goal proves decisive for Inter Miami in MLS Cup championship
Rodrigo De Paul’s nickname is “El Motorcito” or “the engine” in Spanish.
Inter Miami signed him this past summer hoping he could energize the midfield and facilitate scoring opportunities for a team already loaded with several attacking options, led by Lionel Messi.
But on Saturday afternoon, De Paul picked the perfect time to end up on the receiving end of such an effort.
With the MLS Cup final leveled at 1, De Paul surged through a pair of Vancouver defenders following a brilliant steal by Messi and scored what proved to be the decisive goal in Inter Miami’s 3-1 championship-clinching victory against the Whitecaps at Chase Stadium.
It was De Paul’s first goal since joining the club on July 25.
“It was a huge lift with the game tied,” teammate Telasco Segovia said. “Luckily, he got that goal, and it calmed us all down at that moment.”
De Paul, a member of Argentina’s World Cup championship team in 2022, and close friend of Messi’s, who’s often referred to as his on-field bodyguard, was in the perfect spot for No. 10 and Inter Miami in the 71st minute Saturday.
After Messi intercepted a ball by Andres Cubas, he rolled it ahead to De Paul, who used his noted speed to race past defender Joedrick Pupe and then fired a shot to the far corner past Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.
The goal was the first by an Inter Miami player in the match as the initial tally came on a Vancouver own goal in the eighth minute. It shifted the momentum of a contest in which Vancouver had dominated possession to that point and 11 minutes after Ali Ahmed’s tying goal put Miami’s championship hopes in jeopardy.
De Paul celebrated with his teammates and continued to hype up the home crowd raising his arms in a gesture encouraging the fans to get louder, which he repeated as the final seconds of the match ticked away.
“Rodrigo is always encouraging us and bringing a lot of energy,” Segovia said. “I feel like that was his biggest contribution.”
Tadeo Allende sealed the outcome with a third goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.
Allende and De Paul’s goals in recent weeks took some of the pressure off Messi as it marked the second consecutive playoff game in which Messi did not score, but instead contributed to goals for Miami.
But Messi’s brilliance and versatility inspired awe from those who witnessed it once again.
“That performance shows how efficient he is,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said about Messi, who earned MLS Cup MVP honors. “He does not have to have much contact with the ball to make a difference. That steal he had to create the second goal and then the assist...he doesn’t need much to make something happen.”
De Paul’s impact during his 11 regular season appearances and six playoff matches was felt on the team and a big part of its surge down the stretch, according to Segovia.
De Paul recorded five assists and often drew defenders’ attention as he did in Saturday’s match when drew four fouls from Vancouver.
With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba both having played their final matches with Inter Miami, De Paul figures to be one of the key returners next season.
The 31-year-old De Paul could play a key role in the club’s immediate future as it heads into its first season at Miami Freedom Park as he came over on an initial loan from Atlético Madrid with a mandatory purchase option, which made the deal permanent through the 2029 MLS season.
“He’s a great player and there’s a lot to learn from him and he gives everything for his teammates every game,” teammate Yannick Bright said. “It was good for him and good for us.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM.
